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Symptoms of Cat Scratch Fever in Children

A bacterial infection causes cat-scratch fever, also known as cat-scratch disease. The Bartonella henselae bacterium typically enters the child's body from a cat bite or scratch. Cat-scratch disease most often affects children between the ages of two and 14, and usually comes from a kitten rather than an adult cat, according to pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene.

  1. Common Symptoms

    • The common symptoms of this disease come in two phases. In the first phase, a rash with small bumps or blisters develops around the cat scratch or bite within 3 to 30 days of the injury and lasts for up to a month. As the rash begins to fade the child's lymph nodes in the neck will start to swell, and remain swollen for several more weeks. Lymph node swelling is the second phase.

      For most kids with cat scratch disease this is the extent of the symptoms and the child will recover without any treatment or serious complications. Many children will not even feel sick when they have cat scratch disease.

    Less Common Symptoms

    • In about 30 to 50 percent of infected children, flu like symptoms will develop with the development of swollen lymph nodes. This can include a "fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, or headache," says Dr. Greene. Treating these symptoms with rest, fluids and pain reliever may suffice. If the nodes are severely swollen and painful, the child's doctor may aspirate and drain the fluid from the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes may remain swollen for 30 to 45 days.

      Even with these increased symptoms, the infection will generally last only six to 12 weeks in the absence of antibiotic therapy, according to researchers at the National Center for Infectious Diseases.

    Rare Symptoms

    • More serious complications tend to occur in immune-compromised individuals. In rare cases the swollen lymph nodes may remain swollen for up to a year. In more serious cases children may have a low-grade or high fever lasting longer than a week. Complications may include joint pain or encephalitis, seizures, or pulmonary disease. Other reported complications include hepatitis and pneumonia. Such severe cases may require antibiotic treatment and even hospitalization.

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