subject: What You Need To Know About Cat Scratch Fever [print this page] Cat scratch fever is still an alien term to most of us. It is also called cat scratch disease. The cause behind it is the Bartonella bacteria. A scratch or a bite from a cat carrying Bartonella bacteria will cause you to have the disease. You will also contract cat scratch disease by having an open wound on your skin or the white part of your eyes come in contact with the saliva of the carrier cat.
The skin where the scratch or bite site usually is located becomes a bump or blister. This is the first sign of cat scratch fever. Lymphadenopathy, or simply swelling of the lymph nodes, will be experienced next, usually about 2-3 weeks after the bite or scratch. This will happen at the lymph nodes near to where the scratch or bite site is. These are the classic signs associated with the disease.
The other common signs and symptom manifested by cat scratch disease includes fatigue. Body discomfort and headache will also be felt. In some cases, fever can also accompany the disease.
Having lymph nodes which break into the skin because of a drain and having an enlarged spleen are the less common signs and symptoms of the disease. Anorexia, lowering of weight, and the appearance of a sore throat can also be experienced.
Having the knowledge to discern the signs and symptoms of the disease will prompt you to go to a doctor immediately. If your doctor sees that you have the 2 most typical signs mentioned earlier, then he will try to figure out if you have cat scratch fever. A swollen spleen can be found out by doing an ultrasound or physical assessment. Utilizing the Bartonella henslae IFA test will yield a very accurate result to confirm if the person has Bartonella bacteria or not. Finally, lymph node biopsy can also diagnose the disease.
Medical intervention is not usually given to most cat scratch fever cases. Treatment and medication is not necessary for a person with a high level of immunity and can recover on his own. People with AIDS or who are under chemotherapy because of having cancer on the other hand have a low level of immunity, so an antibiotic regimen like Azithromycin is prescribed for the disease.
To prevent complications like encephalopathy, osteomyelitis and neuritis, have yourself checked out by a doctor once you have been scratched or bitten by a cat.
