Cat Scratch Disease

You probably thought cat scratch fever was just a song or no big deal. But it turns out that a simple claw mark from the family feline can send you to the hospital, or worse - Veterinary Medicine, NC State

Cat Scratch Disease
Cat Scratch Disease

image by: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

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The More You Learn about Cat Scratch Disease, the More Confusing It Gets

Cats are common pets, found in about 35 percent of households in the United States. Cats are generally docile, but they can be unpredictable and occasionally bite or scratch people for no good reason. Numerous diseases can be transmitted this way from cats to humans. Infections following cat puncture wounds are relatively common, and up to 80 percent of cat bites become infected.

Cat bite infections are usually polymicrobial. Pasteurella, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and multiple, often unusual, anaerobic organisms are isolated from most infections (an amazing average of five organisms per bite). Common antibiotics used to treat soft tissue infections empirically, such as cefalexin,…

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 The More You Learn about Cat Scratch Disease, the More Confusing It Gets

This author said CSD is one of the most common causes of chronic lymphadenitis in children, secondary to a scratch or bite from an infected cat or exposure to cat fleas.

ASPCA

Symptoms usually clear up on their own, but serious complications—including enlargement of the spleen and heart valve infection—can arise, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.

CDC

A person with CSD may also have a fever, headache, poor appetite, and exhaustion. Later, the person's lymph nodes closest to the original scratch or bite can become swollen, tender, or painful. CSD is typically not treated in otherwise healthy people.

Healthline

Most people get better without treatment, and those who do need treatment generally get better with antibiotics. In some cases, people develop serious complications from the bacteria. These complications are more likely to occur in people who have compromised immune systems.

KidsHealth

In most kids, swollen lymph nodes are the main symptom of the disease and the illness often is mild. If people have other general symptoms, they might include fever (usually less than 101°F or 38.3°C ), fatigue, loss of appetite, headache, rash, sore throat, and an overall ill feeling. Atypical cases do occur, but are not common.

MedlinePlus

Generally, cat scratch disease is not serious. Medical treatment may not be needed. In some cases, treatment with antibiotics such as azithromycin can be helpful. Other antibiotics may be used including clarithromycin, rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or ciprofloxacin. In AIDS patients and other people who have a weakened immune system, cat scratch disease is more serious, and treatment with antibiotics is recommended.

Natural Health News

Normally, the disease is not life-threatening and medical treatment is rarely needed. Normally, its treatment involves antibiotics including: Azithromycin. Ciprofloxazin. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Rifampin. Clarithromycin. The disease can turn out to be serious in individuals with a weaker immune system or patients of AIDS. Typically, doctors prescribe antibiotics for treating such patients.

PetMD

Symptoms may become apparent within 7-14 days after the injury, but may take as long as eight weeks to present. Typical symptoms are swelling of the lymph nodes nearest to the bitten or scratched site, fever, headache, and a general malaise. Generally, the symptoms merit no more than a brief rest period until they resolve on their own, usually without medical treatment. Some patients require a course of antibiotics.

Worms & Germs Blog

Transmission of B. henselae from cats to humans is thought to occur through contamination of scratches and bites (broken skin) with flea dirt (i.e. partially digested blood from the infected animal that is excreted by fleas = flea poop). Infection in individuals with weakened immune systems can be extremely serious or even fatal. In otherwise healthy people, the infection tends to remain localized, but can still cause massive swelling and abscessation of local lymph nodes.

Patient

Supportive therapy with antipyretics and analgesics should be given as needed and local heat may relieve the pain of enlarged lymph nodes. •Aspiration of fluctuant tender nodes may help to relieve pain but incision and drainage should be avoided, as this may leave scars and fistulae. A minority of patients may, however, require surgical treatment. •The condition is usually self-limiting in immunocompetent patients and, in the majority of patients, the lymph nodes gradually regress over weeks or months without antibiotics being needed. •Antibiotics are, however, indicated in immunocompromised patients and atypical cases involving severe or systemic disease.

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