This probably a stupid question, but is there a disease transfer from goats??

[bcr495]

My 15yo son went with me to the fair Saturday. I left him to ride the rides while I looked at all the goats. 2 hours later he's rode all the rides and came to find me in the goat barn. Within 10 minutes of petting some goats, he comes to me with red hives all over his arms. First thought, he's allergic to hay. SO we go home. After 2 benadryl allergy he not itching. Next day, 2 more benedryl and the spots are not as red. Monday the hives are there but not red. Wednesday they're getting worse again. Today he has them on his face, so I take him to the docter to get a steriod shot. Then off to school. School calls, come get your son. Now he's broke out with big water-hives everywhere. I don't what else to tell the docter?? Help Is there something I'm missing???
thanks
Alex

[hoofinitnorth]

My allergist said that hives are REALLY hard to track back to a single cause. Could be anything from stress to different environment to food to contact dermatitis to a bacteria to a virus to ???

It's unlikely he got an illness from the goats themselves, but he could have been allergic to them or perhaps he touched his eyes, nose, mouth without washing his hands and that introduced a bacteria to his system.

[bcr495]

thanks for the reply. He said, he petted about 4 goats. Now I thinking maybe he's allergic to the dander. It can't be the hay, he's been in my barn many of times.

Just got of the phone with him. He says now it's on his nose and lips. Sounds like cronic hives. I told him to call me if he has any trouble breathing.
Alex

[TexasArtist]

I've never really heard of any goat to human transfer (doesn't mean they don't exist though) Could it possible be that whoever owned them bathed them before the show and you son was sensitive to it? Perhaps the goats were around something that rubbed off? (poisen ivy or such)

[hoofinitnorth]

Well allergies can develop over time even when they person was not sensitive to the offender in the past. I lived with allergies for YEARS and never knew I had them (long story as to how/why they were discovered and treated). Lots of my friends and family have suddenly turned allergic to one thing or another too, things they had been around a lot or had been around only a few times. Almost seems random.

Doubt it was fleas or ticks or lice but those are possibilities too.

[BlueHeronFarm]

Hm-- perhaps the goats had been browsing in Poison Ivy?

[HazyDay]

All I have heard of was when you help birthing and get the birthing fuilds in a cut or in your mouth!

[Alice In TX/MO]

I'm thinking poison ivy, too.

Or, did he eat or drink anything at the fair? touch anything that was touched first by someone else? go to the bathroom? not wash his hands?

Could be just about anything besides goats. But it could be goat allergy, too.

[BlueHeronFarm]

Originally Posted by bcr495

thanks for the reply. He said, he petted about 4 goats. Now I thinking maybe he's allergic to the dander. It can't be the hay, he's been in my barn many of times.

Just got of the phone with him. He says now it's on his nose and lips. Sounds like cronic hives. I told him to call me if he has any trouble breathing.
Alex

Also - they may have been feeding different hay than what you keep. My husband is allergic to some - not others. Even sometimes the same kind of hay we've bought from the feedstore at different times- which to me says it could be about the fertilizers or pesticides used, too.

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

Yes my vet wears long sleeves when she works with my goats even in the heat of the summer because she is soo sensitive to poison oak and ivy from my goats. It doesn't bother me unless I am shaving them, then it's like the little hairs imbed into your arms. Tell him to take 3 adult benedryl, it will go away, don't put it off until he has trouble breathing! Vicki

[marvella]

my first thought was mites. could he have caught scabies?






btw vicki, you are an invaluable resource to this board. thanks for all your hard work.

[goatkid]

It sounds like an allergy to me. I became super sensitive to poison ivy as an adult. I once got a little patch of it on my hand and when I treated it, it went away, but then I broke out all over with hives. The doctor told me I am allergic to my immune reaction to the poison ivy. I was given hydrocortisone for the rash and told to take Benadryl. Thank God we don't have any poison ivy on the property.

[homesweethome]

It's not scabies- lol!
I agree with everyone else, it's an allergic reaction to something. Hope it passes with no more ill effects!

[HilltopDaisy]

Sounds like poison ivy to me.

[chamoisee]

I have broken out from handling my goats before, usually it is the milk, manure, or when I go in to reposition a kid. My arm will be broken out up to the elbow before I can run up and wash it off. It's one of the reasons why I got so ticked off when my goats kicked milk all over me...instant itching and rash!

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

No milk baths for you cleopatra! Vicki

[wildhorse]

Q-Fever: This rickettsial disease, caused by Coxielia burnetti, is most commonly associated with sheep, although goats, cattle, and other mammals can be sources of infection. Infected ruminants are usually asymptomatic. The rickettsia are shed in the urine, feces, milk and, most importantly, birth products (placenta, amniotic fluid, blood and soiled bedding) of infected animals. Q-fever is spread by aerosolization of infected body fluids. Disease transmission can be reduced by careful disposal of birth products. In most cases Q -fever is manifested by flu-like symptoms that usually resolve within 2 weeks and can be sometimes misdiagnosed as the flu. However, it can be severe in those with other health issues and can lead to pulmonary and cardiac complications. Respiratory protection should be used during the birthing process. Employees can be screened for Q-Fever through Employee Health Services.

Contagious Echthyma: (Orf) This poxviral disease is known as contagious echthyma or sore mouth in sheep and goats, and orf in people. In ruminants, it is evidenced by exudative (draining) lesions found on the muzzle, eyelids, oral cavity, feet or external genitalia. It is more common in younger animals. The disease in ruminants is highly contagious to humans and other animals. Infected sheep or goats are the source of infection to people. Transmission can be by direct contact with lesions or indirectly from contaminated object such as hair or clothing. This is a self-limiting infection, which is usually found on the hands. It consists of painful nodules (bumps), cutaneous ulcerative lesions (open sores), and usually lasts 1-2 months.

Rabies: Rabies virus (rhabdovirus) can infect almost any mammal. The source of infection to people is an infected animal. The virus is shed in saliva 1-14 days before clinical symptoms develop. Any random-source (animal with an unknown clinical history) or wild animal exhibiting central nervous system signs that are progressive should be considered suspect for rabies. Transmission is through direct contact with saliva, mucus membranes, or blood, e.g. bite, or saliva on an open wound. The incubation period is from 2 to 8 weeks or even longer. Symptoms are pain at the site of the bite followed by numbness. The skin becomes quite sensitive to temperature changes and there are laryngeal spasms. Muscle spasms and extreme excitability are present and convulsions occur. Rabies in unvaccinated people is almost invariably fatal. Rabies vaccine is available through Employee Health Services.

Other Diseases: Brucellosis, salmonellosis, giardiasis are other diseases that can be transmitted through contact with goats. These diseases in humans initially exhibit as an acute gastrointestinal illness (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea).

Allergic Reactions

The hair and dander of the goats can be a source of allergies. Proteins secreted by oil glands in an animal's skin, as well as the proteins present in an animal's saliva, can cause allergic reactions in some people. Allergies to animals can take two or more years to develop and symptoms may not subside until months after ending contact with the animal. Symptoms may include sneezing, congestion, and itchy watery eyes. Skin rash and itching may also occur.

[homebirtha]

My guess would be an allergic reaction. I think any disease transmissable from the goats, like orf, wouldn't show up that quickly, 10 minutes after touching the animal. Same with poison ivy. It usually take a few hours at least.

I hope he's feeling better soon. My sister struggled with weird reactions to something all summer. Her allergist told her the same thing. The cause of hives is rarely found.

[bcr495]

thanks everybody for posting. I've been reading this board for almost a year and have been impressed with the knowledge here.

The weird thing about this is: It seems to me like 2 problems. First allergy to something in the goat barn and now like poison ivy or sumac. I think this because now his skin doesn't look like it did Saturday. Saturday looked like hives, now it looks like welts(sp).

He's feeling better right now, with no itching and the welts not red. He's sleeping alot, I guess from the steriod shot. Hopefully it will get better over the weekend or back to the doctor.

I wish I knew what it was, since I hope to start my goat herd next year. This will put a damper on this if it is the goats dander.
thanks
Alex

[BlueHeronFarm]

I would almost be willing to wager on the poison ivy/poison oak thing. I'm glad the poor little guy is getting better.