Cat disease humans "Cat-scratch disease"

Cat-scratch disease is an infection with Bartonella bacteria with the intention of is said to be transmitted by cat scratches, cat bites, or louse bites.

Causes

Cat-scratch disease is caused by the bacteria Bartonella Hensel ae. The disease is applied through the friend with an infected cat (a bite or scratch) or exposure to cat fleas. It furthermore can be apply through friend with cat spit on kaput skin or mucosal surfaces like persons in the nose, backtalk, and eyes.

Symptoms

A person who has had friend with an infected cat could trade show ordinary symptoms, counting:

Bump (papule) or blister (pustule) by locate of injury (usually the initially sign)

Fatigue

Fever (in approximately people)

Headache

Lymph node swelling (lymphadenopathy) virtually the locate of the scrape or bite

Overall ache (malaise)

Less ordinary symptoms could include:

Loss of inclination

Sore throat

Weight loss

Exams and Tests

If you be inflicted with inflated lymph nodes and a scrape or bite from a cat, your shape trouble source could suspect cat-scratch disease.

A corporal examination could furthermore expose an enlarged pique.

Sometimes, an infected lymph node could form a tunnel (fistula) through the skin and drain (leak fluid).

This disease is often not found since it is tricky to make out. The Bartonella henselae immunofluorescence assay (IFA) blood test is an accurate way to detect the infection caused by these bacteria. The results of this test should be considered along with other in rank from your health check history, lab tests, or biopsy.

A lymph node biopsy could furthermore be made to look pro other causes of inflated glands.

Treatment

Generally, cat-scratch disease is not serious. Medical behavior could not be looked-for. Inside approximately suitcases, behavior with antibiotics such as azithromycin can be caring. Other antibiotics could be used, counting clarithromycin, rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or ciprofloxacin.

Inside public with HIV/AIDS and others, who be inflicted with a diluted immune logic, cat-scratch disease is more serious. Treatment with antibiotics is recommended.

Outlook (Prognosis)

People who be inflicted with a healthy immune logic must recover fully lacking behavior. Inside public with a diluted immune logic, behavior with antibiotics ordinarily leads to recovery.

Possible Complications

People whose immune systems are diluted could develop complications such as:

Encephalopathy

Neuroretinitis

Osteomyelitis

Parinaud syndrome (granulomatous conjunctivitis with adenopathy)

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your source if you be inflicted with enlarged lymph nodes and you be inflicted with been exposed to a cat.

Prevention

To prevent cat-scratch disease:

Bath your hands painstakingly with soap and fill up with before a live audience with your cat. Especially wash one bites or scratches.

Play gently with cats so they don't scrape and bite.

Don't allow a cat to lick your skin, eyes, backtalk, or commence wounds or scratches.

Use louse control measures to decrease the expose your cat develops the disease.

Don't upset feral cats.

Alternative Names

CSD; Cat-scratch fever; Bartonellosis

References

Gandhi TN, Slater LN, Welch DF, Koehler JE. Bartonella, counting cat-scratch disease. Inside: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, aide: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:Chap 236.

Wiener AH, Selkin BA, Murakawa GJ. Cat scrape disease. Inside: Lebwohl MG, Heymann WR, Berth-Jones J, Coulson I, eds. Treatment of Skin Disease: Comprehensive Therapeutic Strategies. 4th ed. Philadelphia, aide: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:Chap 37.

Review Date 9/10/2015

Updated by: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also, reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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