Cat scratch disease

Lovers of cats usually have close contact with their pets. A domestic kitten is so cute that nobody thinks about the possibility of getting infected from it. Nevertheless, such a danger exists. One of the diseases transmitted by our cute fuzzies is a cat scratch disease, scientifically - benign lymphoreticulosis.

The disease is caused by a bacterium from the Rickettsia family, called Bartonella Hensel. Cats, especially kittens, are its carriers. It is present in their body and can be excreted with saliva and urine. It is found on their claws and paws.

If we talk about cat diseases, they often have very different symptoms. Unhealthy animals can be restless, aggressive or sluggish. They have no appetite. They mewling plaintively, breathing heavily. They are disturbed by diarrhea or vomiting, rashes on the skin, hair loss, saliva and lacrimation, thirst.

If you get infected with Bartonella, you will not see anything. The kitten looks perfectly healthy. But if he scratches or bites someone, then through lesions on the skin or mucous membranes, through conjunctivitis the infection will penetrate into the body of the "victim". Children or young people are more often ill . More adults may have already been ill, and they have immunity.

Usually, cat scratch disease begins with the appearance of a papule surrounded by a rim of redness. It is sometimes formed on already completely healed skin in the interval of 3 to 20 days after contact with the animal.

Papula is suppressed and opened. In a third of cases, the sick people have a fever, sometimes up to 38-40 degrees. It lasts from a week to a month. There is a feeling of malaise, aches and pains in the muscles. A small reddish rash may appear on the face.

Bacteria from the primary focus of infection penetrate into the lymph and then into the regional lymph nodes. There inflammation develops with an increase in the number of reticular cells and the formation of granulomas. Usually it happens 2-4 weeks after infection. Lymph nodes increase to 3-5, sometimes up to 10 cm. They form abscesses, which are sometimes spontaneously opened. Depending on the site of infection, ulnar, cervical, inguinal lymph nodes are affected .

Often the only manifestation of infection is an increase in a single lymph node. Lymphopathy lasts from 2 weeks to a year. There may be an increase in the spleen and liver.

If the infection falls on the conjunctiva of the eye, conjunctivitis develops with the formation of small ulcerative nodules. The anterior parotid lymph node, and sometimes submandibular lymph nodes is affected.

However, a cat scratch disease in a person with low immunity can occur atypically. Affected internal organs: heart, lungs, spleen. There are abscesses and fistulas. There is a high temperature, a severe general condition. There can be lesions of the nervous system in the form of encephalopathies, meningitis, neuritis.

Fortunately, atypical cat scratch disease is noted in only 10% of cases. Usually the course of the disease is mild and ends with complete recovery.

Diagnosis of the disease is based on his clinical picture and the presence of contact with the cat. Confirm it can be using a microbiological blood test, a biopsy specimen of the lymph node or papules, PCR.

If a child or an adult has cat scratch disease, the infection is treated by an infectious disease specialist. In case of complications, doctors of other specialties help him. Unfortunately, there are not enough effective antibiotics for this infection. Usually, symptomatic therapy is performed, doxycycline and erythromycin are prescribed. There are reports of the effectiveness of a new ketolide antibiotic.

For prevention, never forget to scratch iodine! Good health to you!