Bartonellosis or cat scratch fever is a condition resulting from Bartonella, the bacteria associated with the disease. Dog and monkey bites have also been implicated, as well as pins, thorns and splinters. Cat bites are more likely to become infected than dog bites, even though dogs do more outward damage. Keep an eye out for the following warning signs: Most people who get cat scratch disease start by getting little spots where their skin has been in contact with a cat's saliva - so a scratch or a bite nasty enough to have broken the skin is the usual cause. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015. No one understands pets like pet owners themselves! Cat scratch disease is an illness that can occur after being bitten or scratched by a cat. Some of the common cat scratch fever symptoms include: An inoculation lesion is a small blister or bump that develops at the scratch or bite site.. A scab or pustule at the site of the cat scratch is likely to be your first sign … After another 1 to 7 weeks, swelling of lymph glands in the region of the scratch will occur. The illness can be spread from infected cats to people through bites, scratches, or fleas. While most patients do not require antibiotics, a few tend to develop symptoms of dissemination to the liver, eye, spleen, or central nervous system and may need to be on an antibiotic therapy to treat the infection. It is caused when the Bartonella henselae bacteria carried by cats gets under the skin in a human.Cats, and especially kittens, become infected with the cat scratch bacteria from fleas. Home » Cat Diseases & Conditions » Cat Scratch Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment. Cat scratch fever does not usually cause severe symptoms, but some people may develop a high temperature that does not improve with time. It is a bacterial infection caused by exposure to the saliva of infected cats. This could happen 3 to 10 days after the bite or scratch. Cat-scratch disease commonly presents as tender, swollen lymph nodes near the site of the inoculating bite or scratch or on the neck, and is usually limited to one side. Cat bites can be very dangerous because of the potential bacteria that can be transmitted. CSD Is different from an adult cat bite; adult cats that bite can lead to a rapidly progressing infection (48 hours) due to Pasteurella multocida and/or other organisms. Some of the rare symptoms of cat scratch disease include infections of the liver, bones, spleen, joints, or lungs, severe headache, and acute confusion. They may even request a serologic test for immunoglobulin G antibody to B. henselae. Symptoms of cat-scratch disease. Some of the rare symptoms of cat scratch disease include infections of the liver, bones, spleen, joints, or lungs, severe headache, and acute confusion. In people who have a normal immune system, cat scratch disease is usually not a serious illness. Your doctor will perform a physical examination on you to diagnose signs of a large spleen. Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial infection spread by cats. Wash hands after playing with kitty, especially homes with young children or those with low. A low-grade fever, which means less than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, is one of the first symptoms to appear in cat scratch disease. Cat scratch fever is one of the most common causes of the syndrome. If a cat has licked an open wound it can infect you that way too. Osteomyelitis may cause permanent bone damage, which may require amputation. [Medline] . Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a syndrome that begins on the skin where a pet cat (kitten usually) has scratched, licked or bit a person. Most infections usually occur after scratches from domestic or feral cats, especially kittens. In humans, the first and most noticeable symptom of bartonellosis is the development of an encrusted bump or erythematous papule. The signs and symptoms that follow may include Lesions are most commonly found on the arms and hands, head, or scalp and usually are not painful. A vesicle or an erythematous papule may form at the site of initial infection. Signs & Symptoms. Expertise: On top of being dedicated pet owners themselves, our team of authors has been trusted by reputable outlets like the AKC, Huffington Post, and Business Insider to provide honest reviews of top pet products as well as helpful advice to pet parents like you. Lesion of cat-scratch disease. If you suspect your child may have cat scratch disease, contact your healthcare provider immediately. A red bump, sore, or blister may develop where a cat has bitten or scratched you. You can catch the infection if an infected cat licks an open wound, as the bacteria live in the kitty’s saliva. 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