Can You Prevent Rat Bite Fever By Cleaning Bites

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Case of 'Rat Bite Fever' Reminds Us That Fifty-fifty Pet Rats Conduct Loads of Diseases

They may expect cute, but pet rats can exist dangerous. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Here'southward reason No. 1,001 that y'all shouldn't go too cozy with rats: Fifty-fifty the most ambrosial of them are still potential disease vectors.

That's the takeaway from a newly reported case of a woman who developed "rat bite fever," a potentially fatal disease, later beingness bitten by her pet rat.

The 36-year-old woman, who lives in France, went to the infirmary later she developed a fever, joint and muscle aches, and headaches, according to the study, published today (Oct. 30) in the The New England Journal of Medicine. Doctors also noted that the woman had a rash of minor, ruby-red bumps on her hands and feet, while her ankles, knees and wrists were swollen.

A adult female'south pet rat gave her a potentially fatal illness known as "rat bite fever." In a higher place, an image of the patient's foot showing a rash of small, red bumps, which is 1 of the characteristic signs of the affliction. (Epitome credit: The New England Periodical of Medicine ©2019.)

The woman told doctors that, 10 days earlier, she had been bitten by her pet rat. That's when doctors started her on antibiotics, suspecting that she had acquired an infection from the rodent.

They were right: A blood exam revealed that she was infected with Streptobacillus moniliformis, a bacterium commonly found in the mouths of rodents.

Related: 11 Ways Your Dearest Pet May Make You Sick

Doctors diagnosed the adult female with rat bite fever, a relatively rare disease that tin be spread via bites or scratches from rats, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About three-quarters of people with rat seize with teeth fever develop a rash, and most half of them develop articulation pain and swelling.

The illness tin can cause serious complications, including abscesses inside the torso and infections of the liver, kidneys, lungs, brain and heart. About 1 in 10 people with rat bite fever due to S. moniliformis infection die from the illness, the CDC says.

The adult female developed a rash on her hands too every bit her feet. (Image credit: The New England Periodical of Medicine ©2019.)

Still with prompt treatment, most people recover from the illness. In the adult female's case, her symptoms went away afterward about a week of treatment with antibiotics, the written report said. When doctors checked in on her at a follow-up appointment iii months afterward, she remained well, the authors wrote.

To avoid catching diseases from pet rodents, the CDC recommends that people launder their hands immediately afterwards touching, feeding or caring for pet rodents or cleaning their cages. The CDC also warns people not to osculation, nuzzle or concur pet rodents close to their faces, as this tin startle the rodent and increase the chances of being bitten.

Yous should also let your medico know if you accept been around pet rodents, peculiarly if you become sick or are bitten, the agency says.

Because rodents can spread disease, the CDC does non recommend pet rodents for pregnant women, families with children age 5 or younger, or people with weakened immune systems. These groups are at higher adventure of contracting serious illnesses from rodents.

• 27 Devastating Infectious Diseases
• 10 Deadly Diseases That Hopped Across Species
• In Photos: America's Favorite Pets

Originally published on Live Science .

Rachael has been with Alive Science since 2010. She has a main's degree in journalism from New York University'southward Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. She also holds a B.Due south. in molecular biology and an M.South. in biological science from the University of California, San Diego. Her work has appeared in Scienceline, The Washington Post and Scientific American.

Source: https://www.livescience.com/rat-bite-fever.html

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