U.S. leading pediatricians' group warned parents all over the nation and people with immune system problems, that hamsters, baby chicks, lizards, turtles and hedgehogs considerably increase the risks for disease among children. That’s why having them as pets may not be a wise decision. Moreover they also cause biting and scratching problems. Even exposure to the aquarium water of fish can be a pathway for bacteria, the pediatricians said.

"Although numerous positive benefits of human-animal contacts exist, including opportunities for education and entertainment, infectious diseases, injuries, and other health problems associated with these venues are well documented," they wrote.

Most reptiles carry salmonella bacteria, for example. About 11% of salmonella illnesses in children were thought to stem from contact with lizards, turtles and other reptiles, Dr Pickering, the report's lead author and an infectious disease specialist at the US government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explained. Salmonella has also been found in chicks and the young children who play with them can get the disease by kissing or touching the animals and then putting their hands in their mouths, he said as well.

Since 1992, the number of exotic animals available in the U.S. has increased 75 per cent. In 2005 alone, 87,991 mammals, 1.3 million reptiles, and 203 million fish were imported legally into the U.S. However, the association stressed that owning an average pet like a cat or a dog can be a good thing for young children. It's just that families should wait until children are older before bringing home an exotic pet.

The report appears in the October edition of the group's medical journal, Paediatrics.