Bartonella a.k.a. Cat Scratch Disease, Cat Scratch Fever

Let me begin this post by saying, I LOVE all animals and we own two beautiful kitties......or maybe I should re-phrase that to read,  we have two beautiful kitties that own us!!

(Here they are,  that's 12 year old Emma on the right and 6 year old Kashmir on the left)

My grown son is also a lover of all animals and just recently took in a little stray kitten.  She was very thin, covered in scabs and had all kinds of matted fur.   After a few days of rest, lots of good food and TLC, in order to better assess her skin, he felt she needed a bath. He bought some special shampoo and set about cleaning her up.  Although he was very gentle, she didn't understand what was happening and in her effort to escape the bathtub, this happened -

 "Scout" recovered nicely, however, being a mom and a nurse, my son had to endure my lengthy monologue on how he should clean his arm and the danger of  Cat Scratch Disease.
Coincidently, I was just visiting City Mom and she had this amazing post on Bartonella (aka Cat Scratch Disease).  I asked her permission and she very graciously allowed me to reprint the information.  Be sure to drop over to City Mom and check out her amazing blog as well as her complete post on Cat Scratch Disease.

Cat Scratch Disease  

Cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection (Bartonella) that is usually caused from the scratch, lick, or bite of a cat.  More than 90% of people who contract it had contact with cats or kittens. Source: kidshealth.org

The first signs and symptoms of Bartonella are very similar to that of the flu. That is why it can be particularly hard to detect in children for moms and dads. Any parent knows there a many times throughout the year that a child can exhibit cold or flu-like symptoms. And we become quite used to it and don’t get particularly alarmed.

Most people who suffer from Cat Scratch Disease don’t recall being scratched by a cat.  A number of days later a cut or bump may form where the body was in contact with the cat, but these are often mistaken for insect bites.

SYMPTOMS

• fever
• fatigue
• headache
• poor appetite
• an unusual, streaked rash
• swollen glands especially around the head, neck and arms
• lower abdominal pain
• sore soles of the feet
• enlarged lymph nodes
• sore throat
• soft, firm, tender, or painful lumps under the skin

MORE SEVERE SYMPTOMS

If left untreated, Cat Scratch Disease can show itself in the following forms (these are very rare):

• infections of the liver, spleen, bones, joints, or lungs
• a  lingering high fever without other symptoms
• eye infections
• a small sore on the inner eyelid or lining of the eye
• redness of the eye
• inflammation of the brain or seizures

DIAGNOSIS

The good news is that many of the symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease will go away on their own. Diagnosis can be done through a blood test and there are antibiotics that can be prescribed for some cases.

Children with a history with cats and exhibit these symptoms will likely be tested for Bartonella so be sure to tell your doctor if you suspect this could be the case.


Monica 

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.