How Do I Know If I have cat feaces in my sandpit ?
Usually it’s difficult to know unless you have your sandpit covered but just because you can’t see any signs of animal tracks or stool in the sand, it does not mean that your sandbox has not become a giant litter box for the local wildlife and neighbourhood cats. These animals often pay their visits at night, and cats in particular tend to bury their stool, so you may never know they were there, even if you look.
Is Cat Feaces a potential risk in sandpits to children ?
Absolutely !!! (Just to name a few)
- Cutaneous larval migrans—a species of hook work, eggs of the parasite are passed through animal faeces and release larvae that can penetrate a person skin.
- Visceral and ocular larval migrans:- a species of round worm, egg of the parasite are passed through animal faeces, if the egg are accidentally ingested (flicking sand at one another) the egg hatch inside the body and migrate through internal organs causing very serious illness.
- Toxoplasmosis: Cats also shed parasite through their stool called oocysts, the affect can cause mild flu like symptoms but can serious cause harm to children with weak immune systems and pregnant women (Toxoplasmosis can seriously affect unborn baby).
What are the symptoms ?
- Cutaneous larval migrans can cause a red, intensely pruritic (itchy) eruption. The itching can become very painful and if scratched may allow a secondary bacterial infection to develop.
- Visceral and ocular larval migrans can cause abdominal pain, cough, fever, itchy skin or hives and wheezing
- Toxoplasmosis can cause swollen lymph glands, muscle aches, headache, fever, feeling unwell and inflammation of the eye.
These symptoms can be caused from unmaintained sandpits, most people overlook maintenance of sandpits causing illness to children or adult and overlook areas such as sandpits that have been the cause of the illness. People assume sandpits are clean and not susceptible or vulnerable to bacteria.
