Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
CAT SCRATCH FEVER
You may not realize it, but cat scratch fever is more than just a song. It
is caused by
Bartonella henselae,
a common bacteria found worldwide.
Infection typically occurs when a kitten breaks the surface of a person's
skin through a bite or scratch. Eighty percent of the cases occur in
people under the age of 21. People who have compromised immune
systems are also at risk for cat scratch disease.
It is possible that at some time in their lives about half of all cats will
have an infection with
Bartonella henselae
, and although they appear
healthy, they can carry the bacteria for months. Cat scratches are com-
mon, but fortunately, cat scratch disease in humans is uncommon.
Signs of Cat Scratch Fever
Humans become infected when a kitten or cat scratches or bites them
and injects
Bartonella henselae
bacteria into their body. It may take two
to three weeks, but a lymph node near the initial injury site will then
swell, and the surrounding tissues will become red and tender. Other
clinical signs that can be seen in humans are:
•Fever
•
Fatigue
•
Loss of appetite
•
Headache
•
Sore throat
•
Blurred vision
•
Joint pain
Diagnosis and Treatment
When clinical signs in humans suggest that cat scratch disease is a pos-
sibility, a positive diagnosis is made by:
•
History of exposure to a cat or kitten
•
Tests to rule out other causes of swollen lymph nodes
•
A positive cat scratch disease blood test
