Cat Scratch Diseases
What many people refer to as cat scratch disease is actually a bacterial infection caused by Bartonella henselae. This is a bacteria that has been found all around the world and is caught when a person or animal is scratched, licked, or bit by a cat that is infected with the bacteria. More than 90% of the people who have been diagnosed with cat scratch disease have been in recent contact with cats or kittens. It is believed that about 50% of cats have had this bacterial infection at some point in their lives, with younger cats more likely to be infected than older cats.
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Symptoms
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The symptoms of cat scratch disease may vary from person to person. Usually it starts with being bitten or scratched by a cat. After several days the bite may no longer be apparent but a blister or small bump will appear around the bite or scratch and will usually not be painful.
Within two weeks of the bump appearing the individual will usually experience a swelling of one or more of their lymph nodes. It is usually the lymph nodes closest to where the bacteria entered the body that will swell first. In addition to the swelling of the lymph nodes some individuals may develop a fever, a loss of appetite, rash, sore throat, lethargy, headache, and even a rash. In very rare instances infections of internal organs have been reported in addition to seizures.
Contagiousness of Cat Scratch Disease
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While people and other animals will likely become infected with the bacteria if they are scratched, licked, or bitten by a cat with the bacterial infection, cat scratch disease cannot be spread from one person to another. Despite this, people can become infected with the bacteria even if they are not bit or scratched but the saliva of the cat ends up in an open wound of the human.
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Duration of Cat Scratch Disease
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Most people will get that initial bump or blister within three to 10 days of being bitten, licked, or scratched by an infected animal. The lymph node swelling will then begin sometime within a one to four week period, depending on the person. After the initial swelling, the lymph nodes and symptoms will usually last anywhere from two to four months.
Treatment of Cat Scratch Disease
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In most cases the disease will resolve itself without any treatment other than rest and time. In particularly severe cases that are confirmed by laboratory results, antibiotics may be used to fight the spread of the bacteria and shorten the course of the symptoms. If the lymph nodes become very swollen and very painful, which is rare, a doctor may choose to drain the fluid from the node through needle aspiration.
When to Seek Treatment
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While most people who are infected with cat scratch disease recover on their own, it may be important to call the doctor in some cases. It may be important to call the doctor if the wound will not heal, if the wound is surrounded by a red area that continues to grow, or if the individual develops a fever that does not subside after three to five days.
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References
- Cat Scratch Disease
- CDC on Cat Scratch Disease
