The American Academy of Pediatrics says in a recent report that most nontraditional pets – such as rodents, reptiles, monkeys, and illegal exotic animals – pose a health risk to young children and people with immune deficiencies.

While pet ownership can be beneficial to children, many nontraditional pets can spread disease and infection (such as salmonella, campylobacter and cryptosporidium), cause injury, and/or trigger allergies.

The report, “Exposure to Nontraditional Pets at Home and to Animals in Public Settings: Risks to Children,” states that pediatricians and veterinarians play an important role in guiding parents and children about the benefits of pet ownership and the risks associated with nontraditional pet ownership and contact with animals in public settings.

While pediatricians understand pet-related hazards, only 5 percent reported that they regularly educated parents and children about such dangers. The clinical report encourages joint pediatric-veterinary health communication campaigns to increase awareness of animal risks and precautions to prevent injury and illness.