The Symptoms of Cat Scratch Fever

Its a disease that affects 22,000 cat lowers a year and many cat owners are unaware it exists. Cat scratch disease, also known as cat scratch fever, infects people who come into contact with cats through a bite or scratch. Less commonly a human can be infected by a tick carrying the disease that has bitten a cat. What are the symptoms of cat scratch fever?

How Do You Catch Cat Scratch Disease?

Cat scratch fever is caused by Bartonella henselae, a tiny organism carried by cat fleas. Its also carried in the red blood cells of some cats. The disease is most common in children and is transmitted to them through cat scratches or a cat bite. Although children are its most frequent victims, adults who get a cat bite or scratch can get it too.

Symptoms of Cat Scratch Fever

The first sign of cat scratch disease is a bump or sore on the skin five to ten days after a cat scratch or bite. The sore may be so insignificant in appearance that it goes unnoticed. Swelling in the lymph nodes involving the neck, under the arms groin or chest usually follows about a week or two later. The swollen lymph nodes commonly affect one side of the body only, and they may be quite large and tender. The majority of people go on to develop flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, achy joints and fatigue.

In the majority of cases, the symptoms of cat scratch fever go away after a few weeks to months even without treatment and usually arent a serious threat to health. On the other hand, people who have poorly functioning immune systems can have complications such as brain, eye or liver involvement. Cat scratch fever can, rarely, spread to bones or infect a heart valve.

The symptoms of cat scratch fever dont necessarily require treatment if theyre mild, but anyone with immune system problems should get antibiotic therapy to reduce the risk of serious complications.

Symptoms of Cat Scratch Fever: The Bottom Line?

Anyone who has swollen lymph nodes or flu-like symptoms after a cat bite or scratch needs evaluation. Cat Scratch disease is diagnosed through a blood test looking for antibodies to Bartonella henselae, the microorganism that causes cat scratch fever. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, a decision as to whether to use antibiotics can be made - and the healing can begin.

References:

American Family Physician. Volume 83, Number 2. January 15, 2001. Pages 152-155.