Cat scratch fever

General or Other | General Practice | Cat scratch fever (Disease)


Description

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a common benign infectious disease. Also known as Cat scratch fever, it is due to the on intracellular bacteria named Bartonella, usually found in children following a scratch or bite from a cat.

Manifestations of cat scratch disease can be divided into classic and atypical. Classic cat scratch disease presents as tender and swollen regional lymph nodes (regional lymphadenopathy), papule at the site of initial infection, fever and other systemic symptoms, headache, chills, backache and abdominal pain. Atypical cat scratch disease takes several different forms depending on organ systems involved: conjunctivitis, Bacillary angiomatosis, acute encephalopathy, enlarge spleen and sore throat.

Causes and Risk factors

The disease is spread through contact with an infected cat, from a bite or scratch, or contact with cat saliva on broken skin or the white of the eye.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis includes physical examinations, testing for Bartonella and lymph node biopsy if necessary.

Generally, cat scratch disease is not serious and medical treatment is not usually needed. Antibiotics are used for infections, especially in AIDS patients and other people who have a suppressed immune system, cat scratch disease being more serious in their condition. Complications that can occur in cat scratch disease are: encephalopathy, neuroretinitis, osteomyelitis and Parinauds syndrome characterized by granulomatous conjunctivitis with adenopathy. ...