How to Diagnose a Bartonella Infection

Bartonellosis is an infection by a bacterium in the Bartonella genus. At least twelve members of this genus have been identified, although only three are considered significant as far as human diseases go. B. bacilliformis can cause Oroya fever and verruga peruana. B. henselae can cause cat scratch disease, and B. quintana can cause trench fever. Both B. henselae and B quintana also may cause bacillary angiomatosis and bacillary peliosis.

Instructions

• 1

  Notice that Oroya fever and verruga peruana are closely related infections with symptoms that can range from mild to severe and appear suddenly 3 to 12 weeks after being bitten by a sand fly. Body aches, breathing difficulty, chills, fever, headaches, seizures and sweating can occur in severe cases.

• 2

  Observe the site of a bite or scratch for symptoms of cat scratch disease. An enlarged lymph node and an inoculation lesion may develop 5 to 10 days following exposure and may last for up to a few weeks. Cat scratch disease is generally not serious in patients with an uncompromised immune system.

• 3

  Expect trench fever to incubate from several days up to a month. Several episodes of fever usually occur, lasting about 5 days each. Occasionally, the fever may be continuous and last 2 to 6 weeks.

• 4

  Examine patients with a compromised immune system for signs of bacillary angiomatosis. This infection is most closely associated with AIDS patients and typically involves the skin. It closely resembles Kaposi's sarcoma but also can affect the bones, brain, gastrointestinal tract, lymph nodes and respiratory tracts.

• 5

  Check for infections of the liver or spleen if bacillary peliosis is suspected. Symptoms may include fever, skin lesions and tender lymph nodes, depending on the infection site.