For many families, home isn't complete without a pet. Cats and dogs are the most common, though frequently families choose exotic or nontraditional pets such as reptiles, rodents and even monkeys.

Recently, however, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published an article discouraging parents from keeping exotic pets in homes with children under the age of 5. Many parents are unaware of the dangers of disease and/or injury from many of these types of pets.

"Each species of animal has their own set of zoonotic diseases [transmittable from animal to human]," says Dr. Kristen L. Nelson, a Scottsdale, Ariz., veterinarian who cares for exotic animals.

These diseases can be spread through animal feces, a bite or merely by touching the animals. Some of these diseases, unfortunately, can be fatal to humans, especially those with immature immune systems.

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