Psittacosis is an infectious disease usually spread to humans from infected birds in the parrot family. Birds in the parrot family, or psittacines, include parrots, macaws, budgerigars (parakeets or budgies), and cockatiels. Domestic turkeys and pigeons have also infected people.
Can budgies cause lung problems?
Psittacosis is an uncommon infectious disease that is most often transmitted to humans through exposure to infected birds, especially parrots, cockatiels, parakeets and similar pet birds. Psittacosis can affect the lungs and may cause inflammatory illness of the lungs (pneumonia).
Why you should not get a budgie?
Parakeet Cons: Don't let their small size fool you into thinking these parrots are silent. While they don't squawk loudly, they can chirp constantly. Short lifespan of 8-12 years (compared to 20+ for larger parrots). Relatively fragile health; can easily get sick with slight temperature variations.
Is budgie saliva toxic?
Saliva is the most common way to transmit gram negative bacteria to parrots (who, hopefully, do not have access to any other body fluids from ourselves or our pets.) This means we should be careful when we kiss our birds and we should never let them eat from our mouths or our utensils.
Do budgies cause asthma?
Asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis may result on exposure to Budgerigars (1, 2). The allergic manifestations may present as Bird Fancier´s Asthma and as the so-called Bird-Egg Syndrome, with symptoms such as rhinitis, urticaria and angioedema, and also as gastro-intestinal problems (3, 4).
