Our Children and Calf Scours

By Arden Wohlers DVM
Extension Veterinarian
University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Education Center

This is the time of year when a new generation of baby animals is born. These new animals have young, not fully developed immune systems and are therefore quite susceptible if exposed to intestinal infections. Our small children are in the same predicament. Children and baby animals have not been exposed to many diseases in their young life, so their immune system has no memory of how to defend itself against a new disease invader. The elderly and those with impaired immune systems from disease or chemotherapy are also more likely to pick up these infections. It is difficult to eliminate exposure because the young are curious and many items that are contaminated find their way into small mouths. The contaminated items can be dirt, straw or hands. Be especially concerned for your city cousins. Studies have shown they are more susceptible to these diseases than farm children. Amazingly, our farm kids have had frequent mild exposures to the diseases and have often developed a certain level of immunity against them.

Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptosporidia and others cause similar symptoms in calves, lambs, foals and children. The symptoms of diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, stomach cramps, fever, and nausea are similar in the animals and children. Children and animals can pass these intestinal diseases to each other and they can be life threatening. A low level of these organisms may normally live in the intestines of adult humans and animals without causing apparent harm.

What are the precautions to take to prevent the spread of these diseases to our children? Children should thoroughly wash their hands after handling animals. Parents should wash their hands between handling animals and handling children. Boots worn in the barnyard where there are sick animals should not be worn in the house where they will contaminate the floor that children play on. Coveralls should be removed or clothes changed before an animal caretaker plays with a child. Everybody should change their clothes and wash their hands between handling animals and preparing meals or snacks. An added safety measure is to completely cook the food you intend to eat.

Many of these intestinal infections may cause no symptoms or only mild diarrhea and will resolve without treatment in a few days. But because they may progress quite rapidly and be very severe in the young it is best to seek medical attention in the early stages of disease.

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