Cat scratch fever is a bacterial condition commonly known as cat scratch disease (CSD). People catch the disease from cats infected with the bacterium Bartonella henselae.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) anticipates that 12,000 people will be diagnosed with cat scratch fever per year, with 500 hospitalized. Cases spike in January, presumably due to increasing kitten adoptions, then again between August and November.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CAT SCRATCH FEVER?
Symptoms of cat scratch fever
Cats can contain B. henselae, although the pathogen seldom causes illness in them. As a result, it's not always possible to identify if they're carriers. Cats are most likely infected by infected fleas. Humans can get the bacterium directly from fleas in very uncommon cases. According to CDC, around 40% of cats have the bacterium at some point in their life, most often as kittens. Treatment for cats is not normally advised.
Symptoms of cat scratch fever in humans
Cat scratch fever is characterized by the following symptoms:
- A lump or blister at the location of the bite or scratch
- Lymph nodes swollen at the bite or scrape site
- Body pains
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- A low-grade fever that is higher than 98.6°F (37°C) but lower than 100.4°F (37°C)
Cat scratch fever symptoms that are less prevalent include:
- Appetite loss
- Slimming down
- Throat pain
Cat scratch fever symptoms that are uncommon may indicate a more severe form of the illness. Among these signs are:
- Backache
- Chills
- Rash
- Fever that persists
- Stomach pain
- Joint pain
A lump or blister on the skin at the site of infection may appear 3 to 10 days after exposure. Other symptoms, such as enlarged lymph nodes, may take many days or weeks to appear. Lymph node swelling usually occurs between one and three weeks.
The following conditions may be confused for cat scratch fever:
- Brucellosis, a disease spread from animals to people that causes flu-like symptoms and enlarged lymph nodes
- Lymphadenitis, which is an inflammatory condition characterized by enlarged lymph nodes.
- Lymphogranuloma venereum, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes a skin lesion at the site of infection, which may develop into a raised bump or blister and is followed by enlarged lymph nodes.
- Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that causes a bull's-eye rash before flu-like symptoms appear.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF CAT SCRATCH FEVER?
Cat scratch fever is caused by a bite or scratch from an infected cat. You can potentially contract the illness if contaminated cat saliva goes into an open cut or contacts the whites of your eyes. You may get the sickness through a flea or tick carrying the bacteria.
You cannot contract cat scratch sickness from another person.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR CAT SCRATCH FEVER?
Anyone who owns or interacts with a cat is susceptible to cat scratch fever.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cat scratch fever is most frequent in the southern United States and among children aged 5 to 9 years old. Persons who were hospitalized were more likely to be male than outpatients, despite the fact that the majority of people diagnosed are female.
If you have a weaker immune system, you are more likely to become critically ill with cat scratch fever. People who may fall under this group include people who are pregnant or live with:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- AIDS or HIV
- Organ transplants
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF CAT SCRATCH FEVER?
Cat scratch fever can cause a number of unusual complications.
- Encephalopathy: Encephalopathy is a type of brain illness that can develop when germs travel to the brain. Encephalopathy can cause lifelong brain damage or death in certain situations.
- Osteomyelitis: Osteomyelitis is a bone infection caused by bacteria that can cause bone damage. In certain cases, the bone deterioration is severe enough that amputation is required.
- Neuroretinitis: Neuroretinitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the optic nerve and retina. It causes eyesight blur. When the bacterium that causes cat scratch fever enters the eye, it can cause inflammation. After the infection has cleared, the vision normally improves.
- Oculoglandular Parinaud syndrome: Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome is an eye illness that resembles pink eye. One of the most prevalent causes of this condition is cat scratch fever. It might be caused by B. henselae directly entering the eye or by the germs moving via the bloodstream to the eye. Antibiotics are frequently effective in treating the condition. Surgery may be required in rare circumstances to remove infected tissue from the eye.
HOW IS CAT SCRATCH FEVER DIAGNOSED?
If your doctor suspects you have cat scratch fever, he or she will do a physical examination. Cat scratch fever is difficult to diagnose based just on symptoms. A doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis by using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) blood test to discover if you have the B. henselae bacterium.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR CAT SCRATCH FEVER?
Cat scratch fever is usually not dangerous and does not require treatment. Antibiotics can be used to treat persons who have severe symptoms of cat scratch fever or have weaker immune systems.
Azithromycin (Zithromax) is used to rapidly reduce lymph node volume. It is usually administered for a period of five days. Other antibiotics that are occasionally used to treat cat scratch fever illnesses include:
- Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- Rifampin (Rifadin)
- Tetracycline (Sumycin)
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)
These antibiotics' treatment periods and dosages vary based on the clinical scenario, however they can last anywhere from five days to two weeks. Consult your doctor about potential medication interactions. If you drink alcohol, you may have drug interactions.
The blister or bump might persist anywhere from one to three weeks. The enlarged lymph nodes normally go away in two to four months, although they might remain up to a year or longer. They can potentially lead to other difficulties.
HOW CAN CAT SCRATCH FEVER BE PREVENTED?
Cat scratch fever may be avoided by avoiding contact with cats. Avoid rough play with your cat that might result in you getting scratched or bitten. To prevent scratching, keep their nails clipped. Washing your hands after playing with your cat may also aid in illness prevention. Allowing your cat to lick or scratch at your eyes, mouth, or open wounds is not acceptable. You and your pets should also stay away from wild cats.
To lessen the danger of your cat developing B. henselae, keep your cat indoors and provide antiflea medicine. Use a flea comb to check your cat for fleas, and vacuum frequently to keep fleas at bay. If required, a pest control company can remove fleas from your house.
Because young cats and kittens are more likely to have the disease, persons with compromised immune systems can reduce their risk of infection by adopting an older cat rather than a kitten.
CONCLUSION
Most patients recover without medication, and those who do require treatment usually recover with antibiotics. The bacterium can cause major difficulties in certain persons. People with weakened immune systems are more prone to have these problems.