Diseases Caused by Goat Milk

Since the 1960s, goat milk has expanded its following. Its increased popularity has led to health concerns around the diseases goat milk might carry. The process of pasteurization will eliminate most bacteria; unfortunately, many choose to purchase raw goat's milk, thinking the raw milk contains nutritional benefits that are removed by the pasteurization process. Infectious diseases carried by raw milk are called "zoonotic diseases," and are especially dangerous for those with compromised immune systems.

Salmonella

• Salmonella is one of the more common forms of bacteria carried in foodstuffs. Symptoms that will alert a person to salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and nausea. Fortunately, in most cases there are a variety of antibiotics, among them ampicillin, that will counteract infection. If you or anyone else you know has consumed raw goat milk and displays these symptoms, contact a doctor immediately.

Campylobacter

• Even more common than Salmonella, Campylobacter, discovered in 1975, is the most common form of food-borne infection. Symptoms include diarrhea and fever. The most common forms of treatment are the antibiotics erythromycin and clarithromycin. If you ingest raw goat milk and experience these symptoms, contact a doctor.

E. Coli

• E. Coli is part of a family of bacteria that infects the intestinal tracts of all warm-blooded animals. Certain forms of the bacteria create a toxin called Shiga, which is one of the most potent ever discovered. The first symptoms of infection are abdominal pain, followed by diarrhea. If you or anyone you know has digested raw goat's milk and displays these symptoms, contact a doctor immediately.

Other Diseases

• There are many other forms of disease carried by raw goat's milk. These include, but are not limited to, botulism, hepatitis, listeria and shigella. Raw goat milk can be a very dangerous food; it is ill-advised to give it to a child or a person with a compromised immune system.