Conference 7.286::pet_birds

199.0. "Bird related human diseases." by UTROP1::BOSMAN_P () Mon Jun 19 1989 07:58

    No hysterics needed but just be alert to symptomes.
    
    Psittacosis is a form of a viral disease called Ornithosis.
    Usually the patient has high to very high fever and some sort of
    breathing problems. Doctors tend to diagnose Pneumonia
    or, as in my case, meningitis.
    This can be very dangerous as the antibiotics may prove to be fatal.
    
    I had very high temperatures, 41.5 degrees C., for several days,
    became delerious and went into a coma. 
    After two weeks the temperature was below 40.
    It took over four months to recover mentally but I still, 2 years
    later, have a noise in both ears, a deviation in my E.E.G. readings
    and concentration difficulties.
                  
    Ornithosis or Psittacosis is spread by the dried substance of bird
    droppings. The birds do not have to be sick to spread it, they can
    carry it and be healthy.
    If there is a case of prolonged caughing or a fast rising temperature
    in the family of anyone having a bird, please ask your doctor if
    it might be Ornithosis/Psittacosis. It is very easily cured if diagnosed
    correctly.        
    
    In Holland a study about Silicosis in relation to the dusty conditions
    found at the premisis of many bird breeders was recently published.
    It caused a lot of confusion since the press gave the impression
    that parrakeets could couse Silicosis. NOT SO.
    The study states that their is a relation between Silicosis and
    bird breeding if dry sand is used as cage floor.
    The fluttering birds get fine sandparticles airborn in a confined
    area and voil�.
    
    Again no reason for panic, justy good to know.
    
    In view of my past Psittacosis experience I would very much like
    to get informed about definite links between disease and parrot
    keeping.
    Not about maybe's!
    
    Hope I did not disturb anybody. I still very much enjoy my birds
    and think you should do so too.  
              
    Peter
                             
    

    I got it two but had 3 weeks of 104 temp.  there was no lingering
    after affects after I was finally treated but it took 3 days of
    tectracyline to break the feaver & 4 trips to the emergency room.
    
    I guess they had so much trouble becasue I was taking a mega dose
    of B complex every 2 hours and except for the fever I had no other
    symptoms.  Also the last time my husband took me to the emergency
    room he had a copy of the bird talk magazine with the new article
    on psittacosis.