What is cat
scratch disease?
Cat scratch disease is a disease caused by
bacteria that are often carried by cats, especially kittens.
About a week after being scratched or
bitten, your child may have these symptoms:
- 1 or more bumps at the site of a cat
scratch or bite
- tiredness
- poor appetite
- headache
- fever.
One to 4 weeks later, the bacteria travel to nearby lymph
nodes, usually in the armpit, groin or neck. The lymph nodes
become large lumps that are usually painful and may get red.
Large lymph nodes are the most typical feature of cat
scratch disease.
What causes
cat scratch disease?
The name of the bacterium that causes cat
scratch disease is Bartonella henselae.
Cats get the disease from fleas. The
Bartonella bacteria does not cause the animal to act
sick.
The bacteria are transmitted to humans
through a cat scratch, bite, or lick. Sometimes there is no
obvious cause of infection (for example, your child has no
scratches and wasn't ever near a cat). Rarely, the disease
is spread by a dog or other animal.
How is it
diagnosed?
Many children have typical symptoms and will
not need other tests. However, there are other diseases that
are similar to cat scratch disease. Some children need to be
tested for other diseases before the health care provider
can diagnosis cat scratch disease. To make a diagnosis, your
health care provider may recommend blood tests, tuberculosis
tests, X-rays, or testing a sample of fluid taken from the
lumps.
How is it
treated?
Usually no treatment is needed and your
child will get better without medicine. Headache and fever
can be treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Antibiotics
may be given if severe symptoms develop or if your child has
an immune deficiency.
Your child cannot give the disease to anyone
else. After having cat scratch disease once, your child is
very unlikely to ever get it again.
How long will
it last?
Your child will be tired and have a loss of
appetite usually for less than 1 week. The swollen lymph
glands will usually start to get smaller in 2 months, but
may not return to normal size for several months.
About 1 in 50 people with cat scratch
disease will have symptoms that affect the nervous system.
Symptoms may include seizures, numbness and tingling, loss
of muscle strength or problems with the eyes. These symptoms
get completely better with time. Rarely a lymph node will
form a tract to the skin and drain pus. Gradually the large
lumps will decrease in size. On other rare occasions, the
bacteria can spread to other parts of the body.
When should I
call my child's health care provider?
Call during office hours if:
- your child is having high fevers
- your child is a lot of pain in a lymph
node
- your child is acting very sick or
having new signs or symptoms that concern you.
