A 10-year-old boy died from "rat-bite fever" in California in 2013, which is now spotlighting the risk associated with owning pet rodents, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CBS News reported.
"Rat-bite fever is a rare but potentially fatal illness that should be considered in persons with rash, fever and joint pain, and when a history of rodent exposure is reported," said a team led by Dr. Jessica Adam from the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service.
In August 2013, researchers said the previously healthy boy developed a fever of 102 degrees coupled with rigors, vomiting, fevers, leg pains and headaches.
He was originally diagnosed with a gastrointestinal virus, but "during the next 24 hours, the patient experienced vomiting and persistent fever. He was confused and weak before collapsing at home," according to the CDC report. He died in a hospital not too long afterward.
An autopsy and blood test confirmed the presence of a deadly germ that caused the high fever and can be transmitted to humans through the bites or scratches of rodents. About one in 10 bites can cause such a reaction.
"Most infections (94 percent) were pet-associated," the team noted, according to Philly.com. "One patient had an occupational exposure (rat breeder). Sixteen of 17 patients reported exposure to rats. Of these, 44 percent reported only having handled a rat, 38 percent reported being bitten and 13 percent reported a scratch."
With these findings, Adam said that physicians should be vigilant in looking for symptoms of rat-bite fever and that almost all domestic and wild rats carry the bacteria. She and her team suggested that rat owners wear gloves when they handle the animals and wash their hands.
