Cat Scratch Disease

Cat scratch disease is an infection of the bacterium bartonella henselae. People contract the disease by sustaining a cat bite or scratch from a cat that has been infected with the bartonella henselae bacteria. The infection is most commonly spread by kittens that have a history of flea infestation. Cat scratch disease is not a rare disease. Twenty-two thousand cases are diagnosed in the United States every year. This disease is present worldwide.

Cat fleas and ticks can be carriers of the bartonella henselae bacteria. Though most cats infected with the bacteria have no symptoms, some cats have respiratory symptoms, fever, or swollen lymph nodes. Even though this infection is usually asymptomatic in cats, it can cause serious health problems in humans.

A person who has been scratched or bitten by a cat with bartonella henselae may develop a blister at the area of the scratch or bite. The bacteria can also be spread from cat the person if the cat’s saliva comes in contact with broken skin or the person’s eye. The blister at the site of the infection may resemble a bug bite. The blister often occurs about three to ten days after contact with the bacteria.

A week to four weeks after the blister, the person may experience other symptoms. The most common symptom is swollen lymph nodes. The lymph node swelling generally disappears within four months. If the lymph node swelling is painful, the doctor may remove excess fluid with a syringe. Warm compresses may help ease the discomfort of swollen lymph nodes. The bacteria infection is not contagious from person to person. The person often recovers without experiencing any other symptoms.

About one third of the people who become infected with the bartonella henselae develop fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, conjunctivitis, and feel ill due to the infection. Some people develop serious health problems due to bartonella henselae. The bacteria infection can affect the lungs, liver, spleen, joints, and bones. A rare complication of cat scratch disease is the development of seizures. Though the rare effects may be serious at the time, almost all cases of cat scratch disease resolve without permanent damage.