Cat scratch fever is a disease caused by bacteria that cats can carry and transmit to humans through scratches or bites. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, redness, fever, and fatigue. Young children and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of complications. Treatment includes antibiotics and rest. Washing the scratch or bite with warm soapy water is recommended, and a doctor should be consulted if symptoms persist.
Cat scratch fever or cat scratch disease is a relatively rare disease caused by bacteria that cats can carry. The bacterium, Bartonella henselae, is carried by around 40% of cats at some point in their lives and is transmitted to humans through a scratch or bite from an infected cat, hence the name. It is not known whether a flea from an infected cat can transmit the disease, but kittens are known to be more likely to transmit the disease than adult cats.
Most people with cat scratch fever will have a simple illness that clears up on its own in a few weeks. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, redness or swelling at the site of the scratch or bite, fever, general pain, and feeling tired. Typically, an uncomplicated case goes untreated because it often goes unreported and can be mistaken for the flu.
However, some people are at a higher risk of complications from cat scratch fever. Very young children and those with compromised immune systems from autoimmune diseases such as HIV or lupus can have complications. These include significant and persistent swelling of the lymph nodes, very high fever, encephalitis, and enlarged lymph nodes near one eye, causing pinkeye-like symptoms. In rare cases complications, especially from encephalitis, can lead to seizures.
You should always wash a bite or scratch from a cat with warm soapy water as this could prevent any pet-borne diseases. Also, you should watch the scratch or bite over the next few days. If it becomes swollen, turns red, or has pus, a doctor should examine it. If you notice the symptoms listed above, you should also contact a doctor.
Until recently it was quite difficult to test for cat scratch fever. Of course if a person remembers being scratched and may show an infected scratch, this diagnosis is often inferred. Since doctors have now identified the bacteria that cause the disease, blood tests or, in severe cases, a small tissue extraction from an enlarged lymph node can correctly identify the presence of Bartonella henselae.
Patients who start showing more significant reactions to the bacteria can be treated with antibiotics. People with suppressed immune systems are usually given routine antibiotics to prevent serious complications. Many recover from the disease without needing treatment beyond a few days of rest.
An interesting new theory about cat-scratch fever is that it may be responsible for many of the cases of chronic swollen lymph nodes in children. Long after a child has battled bacteria, he or she may still have swollen lymph nodes, which can be painful. Antibiotics often help reduce this swelling.
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