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Symptoms of a Cat-Scratch Fever Condition

Approximately 40 percent of cats, particularly kittens, carry a bacterium known as Bartonella henselae. If bitten or scratched by a cat that carries Bartonella henselae, a person may develop catch-scratch disease, CSD, which is also known as cat-scratch fever. Cat-scratch fever can make a person sick for at least a week at a time. If you develop symptoms, you should make an appointment with your health-care provider immediately.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of CSD include sore throat; fever; chills; feeling tired; swollen lymph nodes, which is the most common symptom; lack of appetite; nausea; and vomiting. If you were bitten or scratched by a cat and contracted cat-scratch fever, a small bump may appear at the site of the injury within 10 days from the time of the incident.

    Causes

    • A person can contract cat-scratch fever from a bite or scratch from or petting a cat since its fur can contain Bartonella henselae. There is no way to determine whether a cat carries Bartonella henselae, since the cat shows no signs of sickness. The only way of knowing whether you have contracted CSD from a cat is with the appearance of symptoms. The lower your immune system is, the worse the symptoms will be.

    At Risk

    • Children often play rough with cats which puts them in a position of being bitten or scratched. According to Dr. Melissa Stoppler, chief medical editor of eMedicineHealth.com, "In people with HIV/AIDS, the infection can lead to an abnormal growth of blood vessels that form tumor-like masses, a condition called bacillary angiomatosis." Bacillary angiomatosis, commonly seen in people with HIV, can cause severe irritation of the brain, lungs, spleen, bone marrow and liver.

    Misconceptions

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "although B. henselae has been found in fleas, so far there is no evidence that a bite from an infected flea can give you CSD." Currently, the only way to contract cat-scratch fever is from a cat.

    Prevention/Solution

    • If you are bitten or scratched by a cat you should immediately wash the injury using an antibacterial cleanser. Never allow a cat to lick an injury that you may have. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that you "avoid "rough play" with cats, especially kittens. This includes any activity that may lead to cat scratches and bites. " If you do become infected from a bite or scratch, contact your family physician immediately for treatment.

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