Table of contents:
- Cat scratch fever, a disease that occurs as a result of being scratched by a cat
- What are the symptoms of a cat infected with bacteria?
- What are the symptoms of cat scratch fever in humans?
- What are the treatments for Cat scratch fever?
Have you ever been scratched by a cat? If so, you will probably only be in temporary pain and may not give it much thought. It may seem trivial and harmless. However, cat scratches can actually cause disease. Cat scratches or cat bites can give rise to a disease known as Cat scratch fever . This cat scratch disease can cause serious complications. How can?
Cat scratch fever , a disease that occurs as a result of being scratched by a cat
Cat scratch fever or also called cat scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial infection caused by being bitten or scratched by a cat.
You can get this disease from the bite or scratch of a cat that is infected with bacteria Bartonella henselae . Even this bacterial infection can come from kitten bites.
You can also become infected with the disease if the saliva from an infected cat gets into an open wound or touches the whites of your eyes.
In addition, this bacterial infection from cats can be carried by fleas and spread to humans through scratches or bites. This disease cannot be transmitted from human to human.
Cat scratch fever can have serious complications such as impaired heart function and brain damage when left untreated. Other side effects include headache, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.
What are the symptoms of a cat infected with bacteria?
Cats infected with bacteria B. henselae generally cause no symptoms or cause the cat to be sick. It is for this reason that you cannot always tell if a cat is the carrier.
Your cat may have these bacteria from infected fleas. In very rare cases, humans can catch bacteria directly from fleas.
What are the symptoms of cat scratch fever in humans?
General symptoms Cat scratch fever in humans include:
- lumps or blisters where the cat has been bitten or scratched
- swollen lymph nodes at the site of the cat's bite or scratch which usually occurs 1-3 weeks
- fatigue
- headache
- low-grade fever
- aches
Less common symptoms include:
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- sore throat
Rare symptoms can be associated with a more severe version of the disease. These symptoms include:
- back pain
- stomach ache
- joint pain
- rash
- prolonged fever
Bumps or blisters can occur on the skin at the site of infection 3-10 days after exposure. Other symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, may not occur for days or weeks. Swollen lymph nodes usually occur between one and three weeks.
What are the treatments for Cat scratch fever ?
Since most cases of cat scratch fever are mild, your doctor will not always prescribe medication. If symptoms are moderate to severe, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Home treatment for the condition includes resting a few days at home and taking over-the-counter pain relievers, if the lymph nodes are painful or very tender.
You can also use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium to reduce swelling and pain. Hot compresses can also help.
To free a particularly tight and painful gland, your doctor can gently insert a needle into it and drain the fluid.
If you have a problem with your immune system or your symptoms haven't gone away in two months, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. This can prevent the infection from spreading to other places in your body, such as your liver or bones. You may need to take this medication for several months.
