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Catscratch Disease: Treatment And Prevention

by — Last updated: 2016-03-19 in Children's & Teens Health

Table of Contents

Children and teens are more likely to catch Catscratch Fever, up to 80% more likely in fact, and this is probably due to the attention or teasing they will often demonstrate with a kitten or cat.

How is Catscratch Fever Treated?

There has been some controversy over how Catscratch Fever is treated, or in some cases, not treated at all. Provided there are none of the complications listed above, many doctors consider the disease to be self-limiting, meaning it will resolve itself without treatment. However, there have been studies done that show that by treating all cases with antibiotics, the recovery time can be much shorter.

If the symptoms of the disease are present over a longer period of time, or they appear to be worsening, it is appropriate to then treat with antibiotics. There are a number of different antibiotics that can be used, including erythromycin, rifampicin, doxycycline, gentamicin, Ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazole.

In very rare situations, the enlarged lymph nodes filled with pus can persist for up to 3 years. Drainage via a needle may be required regularly during that time, to reduce the size of the nodes and to remove the infected pus. A warm compress placed against the lymph nodes can help with the pain and swelling, and any fever or pain can be treated with regular analgesia.

Preventing Catscratch Fever

The number one form of prevention of course is to steer clear of any cats. But, this is not totally reasonable, as not all cats carry the bacteria, and sometimes it’s just too hard to stay away from them. Avoiding rough play with your cat may help to prevent them from biting or scratching you. A stray cat is more likely to be carrying the bacteria as it is most likely to have fleas, which transfer the bacteria from cat to cat. Strays or any cat that looks sick should be avoided.

If you do get bitten or scratched, the first thing to do is to wash the area thoroughly with running water and soap. It wouldn’t hurt to put an antibacterial cream on the wound also. If there is an open wound of any description on your skin, don’t let your kitty lick it. We all know cats like to lick, but the risk of infection is high, so try to avoid letting your cat try and clean your wounds for you!

How Can You Tell if Your Cat is Infected?

It is almost impossible to tell if your cat has been infected by the B. henselae bacteria because there are usually no symptoms or signs of illness. The cat is simply a carrier. In some cases however, the cat can develop an illness form the bacteria that affects their heart. If this occurs, the cat would be showing signs of breathing difficulty, in which case your veterinarian would test for the infection.

Conclusion

Catscratch Fever is not a terribly common disease, and is usually treated fairly easily depending on if any of the more serious complications occur. But this usually affects only a very small number of those with the disease, with most just having a period of swollen glands and general unwellness, treatable with pain relief and antibiotics.

READ Why Is My Cat Doing That: Strange Feline Behaviour Explained

Should you stop playing with your cat and giving it affection? Not at all, you just need to make sure you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards, and if your puss has bitten or scratched you on any part of your body, wash that area too. Cats can carry a number of diseases that can be passed on through their saliva, so you should always be cautious with any licking by your cat or any wounds they may inflict.