How Are Reptiles Harmful?

Human beings have always had an immense craze for reptiles---whether it is keeping them as pets at home, or watching them with keen interest at zoos. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, about 11 million pet reptiles are kept in houses all over America. But keeping them as pets is not advisable. Although reptiles may attract people's interest, they should know that reptiles are, in fact, harmful in some ways.

  1. Reptiles Pose Injury Threats

    • Reptiles are very dangerous. If kept as pets, they can be very difficult to handle. Even in their natural habitats, it is dangerous to go near them. Reptiles can easily injure any living being around them. They can scratch or bite, which can lead to serious wounds. If a reptile catches hold of any body part of a person, a cloth dipped in alcohol or ammonia is used. These chemicals irritate reptiles like snakes and lizards and cause them to get away. To treat a scratch or bite, the bite is thoroughly washed and betadine or any anti-bacterial solution is applied. Severe reptile bites can be painful until the wound heals and can leave deep scars. Bites, in some cases, can even cause death.

    Infections From Reptiles

    • Reptiles can be an easy source of infections in humans. Infected reptiles can cause infections in human beings through bites or scratches. Coming in contact with the cage of an infected reptile can also cause infection. Reptiles commonly carry fungal infections.

    Choking

    • Snakes vary in sizes but the large ones are especially dangerous. People die each year of suffocation after being choked by large snakes such as pythons. Large snakes in forests eat other animals and even attempt to attack and eat humans. People who keep such reptiles as pets are most vulnerable to their attacks as even medium-size snakes have the capability to choke a person to death.

    Parasites Living on Reptiles

    • Parasites like mites and ticks generally live on the bodies of various reptiles. These parasites can be a source of irritation for humans as they bite. They also carry infectious diseases.

    Reptile Related Diseases in Humans

    • Reptiles are known to transmit bacterial diseases. All reptiles---turtles, snakes, lizards---naturally carry a bacterium known as Salmonella which does not harm them, but if transmitted to humans, can cause severe illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 percent of all Salmonella cases in America result from reptiles. Elderly people, pregnant women and small children are especially vulnerable to diseases caused by Salmonella. People should stay away from reptiles, and if they come in contact, they must wash their hands to avoid the transmission of any disease.

    Harmful Effects of Reptiles as Pets

    • Keeping a reptile as a pet not only uproots it from its natural habitat, makes it suffer and damages the environment, but it is very harmful to the people living in the house. People who keep reptiles as pets are at an increased risk of infections and diseases. Even if they are domesticated and well trained, they can turn dangerous anytime and can prove to be very harmful.