Catscratch - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial disease caused by Bartonella henselae. Persons with cat-scratch disease can have a range of illnesses from mild to severe. Cat-scratch disease usually causes swollen lymph glands near the site of the scratch or bite. Most people with CSD have been bitten or scratched by a cat and developed a mild infection at the point of injury. Lymph nodes, especially those around the head, neck, and upper limbs, become swollen. Additionally, a person with CSD may experience fever, headache, fatigue, and a poor appetite. Rare complications of B. The bacteria are present in saliva deposited in cat's fur and claws. It can occur in people of all ages but is most common in children and adolescents. 80% of patients with catscratch disease are less than 21 years old. Children with cat scratch fever develop a brownish-red bump or sore about 7 to 12 days after being scratched, bitten, or licked by a cat, or more commonly a kitten, at the same site as the initial wound. Children with cat scratch fever can also have atypical symptoms, such as pink eye (Parinaud's oculolandular syndrome), fever without other symptoms, headache, or seizures. A few weeks later, they will develop a slowly enlarging lymph node or gland in the same area. Other symptoms can include fever and that the enlarged gland becomes red, warm, and that it hurts. the gland may also begin draining. A small red raised spot develops at the site of contact with an infected cat's saliva. This usually heals without scarring in several days or months. It is often mistaken for an insect bite.Most are found on the hands, arms, face or neck as people often hold kittens close to their chest and face.

Children will also complain of being tired and will have a decreased appetite, a rash, or a sore throat. Adults often have other symptoms such as low fever, tiredness, headache, and loss of appetite. About 5% of persons with cat-scratch disease develop irreversible retinitis (inflammation of the retina of the eye) or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Persons with weakened immune systems can become more seriously ill. In the United States, about 24,000 persons get cat-scratch disease each year. Most are children and young adults. Cat fleas have been shown to be responsible for transmission of B henselae between cats; however, no evidence exists to suggest transmission from cat fleas to humans. Human-to-human transmission has not been verified. Risk factors for acquiring CSD include ownership of a cat younger than 12 months, having been bitten or scratched by a kitten, and owning at least 1 kitten with fleas. More than 90% of patients with CSD have a history of exposure to cats, and 75% of patients have a history of a cat scratch or bite, usually from a healthy kitten. Treatment of uncomplicated catscratch disease remains controversial. Because it is a benign and self-limiting condition, with most cases of regional lymphadenopathy resolving spontaneously in two to four months, no specific treatment is usually necessary. However, some studies suggest that certain antibiotics including doxycycline , erythromycin , gentamicin, rifampicin , cotrimoxazole and ciprofloxacin may significantly shorten the duration of lymphadenopathy. Antibiotics are warranted in patients with severe or persistent symptoms of catscratch disease.

Causes of Catscratch

Common Causes of Catscratch

• Bartonella Henselae Infection.
• B clarridgeiae.

Sign and Symptoms of Catscratch

Common Sign and Symptoms of Catscratch

• Fever.
• Malaise/fatigue.
• Headache.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Sore throat.
• Stomach pains.
• Conjunctivitis.

Treatment for Catscratch

Common Treatment for Catscratch

• Treatment of uncomplicated catscratch disease remains controversial.Certain antibiotics including doxycycline , erythromycin , gentamicin, rifampicin
• Cotrimoxazole and ciprofloxacin may significantly shorten the duration of lymphadenopathy.
• The best way to prevent cat scratch disease is to avoid situations in which you might be bitten or scratched by a cat.
• Don't play roughly with a cat and don't force your attentions on a cat who clearly does not welcome them.
• Immunocompromised people should avoid owning kittens, which are more likely than adult cats to be infectious.
• People to wash their hands after handling or playing with a cat.

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