Young children should not keep exotic pets and should stay away from petting zoos, according to a new report.

Doctors and veterinarians writing in the journal Pediatrics said hedgehogs, hamsters, baby chicks, lizards and turtles cause biting and scratching problems and also carry the risk of disease.

They said that reptiles and amphibians can carry salmonella, and cause 74,000 cases of the disease in people each year. The report also noted that, in the wild, rodents are natural carriers of the plague. Even exposure to the aquarium water of fish can be a pathway for bacteria, they said.

The doctors said that, from 1991 to 2005, more than 55 outbreaks of human disease involved animals in public settings.

"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.

They said things are particularly dangerous for young children, who are still developing their immune systems and often put their hands in their mouths.

Medical professionals can help stop the diseases, however.

"Pediatricians and veterinarians together can remind parents, children and pet owners about the importance of measures to avoid illness," the authors wrote. "Simple and effective advice includes frequent hand-washing and avoiding direct contact with animals and their environments."

The report appears in the October edition of Pediatrics.