What Is the Meaning of Cat Scratch Fever?
Cat scratch fever, more commonly called, cat scratch disease (CSD), results from the scratch or the bite of a cat that carries the Bartonella henselae bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 40 percent of cats carry the bacteria, but you can't tell if a cat is a carrier just by looking at it. Fleas may spread the bacteria from cat to cat, although there is no indication that a flea can transmit CSD to a human through its bite.
Symptoms
Swelling and redness may appear at the sight of the bite or the scratch within three to 10 days after the incident occurs. Approximately one week later, the individual begins to experience swollen lymph nodes, frequently in the arms, the neck or the head. The patient may run a fever and may feel tired or fatigued without reason. In addition, his appetite may suffer and he may develop a lingering headache.
Diagnosis
Your doctor may question you about contact with a cat that resulted in a bite or a scratch. After examining the site of the wound, he may order a blood test to confirm a CSD diagnosis. Since this bacterial disease is not common, the doctor may order additional blood tests to rule out other medical conditions that cause similar symptoms.
Complications
While most cases of cat scratch fever resolve on their own after a few days, leaving the individual immune from developing the disease later in life, occasionally the patient may suffer from complications. These complications may include a high fever that lingers, a sore on the eyelid or on the membrane that lines the eye, infections that develop in the liver, the spleen or the bones or a lung infection. However, in the majority of CSD cases, no complications are present.
Treatment
Usually, cat scratch fever will naturally resolve itself without medical treatment, although swollen lymph glands may not return to their natural size for at least four months. If a lymph gland swells excessively, the doctor may drain some of the fluid with a syringe. Over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen may relieve a low-grade fever and a headache.
Considerations
Any wound from an animal should be reported to a doctor, especially if the wound does not heal quickly. If redness and swelling continue to spread outward from the wound site or if the individual experiences a fever that lasts for more than a few days or exceeds 103 degrees, a medical professional should be called.
Prevention/Solution
Wash all cat bites and scratches thoroughly with antibacterial soap and advise children not to play with stray cats. In addition, children should not play rough with the animals, which might increase the risk of being scratched. Treat your cat and your home at the first sign of fleas with veterinarian-approved flea products.
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