Catscratch Fever

Also known as Catscratch Disease, it is not related to the famous song by Ted Nugent in 1977. Instead, it is subacute regional lymphadenitis, meaning the bacterial infection has affected the lymph nodes.

Are Cats To Blame?

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. We have all seen those children that pull the cat’s tail or ears, and seen how the cat responds – usually with teeth or claws or both!

Symptoms of Catscratch Fever

Following a bite or scratch, a red spot that is small and raised can develop at the site. This will develop into a blister filled with fluid, and later becomes a sore. Usually after several days or sometimes months, this will heal without leaving a scar. Many people often think this is an insect bite, as it looks very similar.

Wherever the bite or scratch occurred on the body, the lymph nodes nearby become painful and swollen, especially in the areas of the neck, head and armpit. Medically, this is called regional lymphadenopathy, and these glands can swell up to 12 cm within 2 weeks of the onset of the disease. The time between injury and the development of the disease can be anywhere from 1-8 weeks.

Other symptoms experienced by at least half of those infected include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue/malaise
• Sore throat
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Rash
• Conjunctivitis (eye infection)

Rarer complications affect roughly 10% and these include:

• Bacillary angiomatosis – an infection of the blood vessels
• Parinaud’s oculoglandular syndrome – a lump in the eye and swollen glands near the ear
• Bacillary splenitis and hepatitis – infection of the spleen and liver
• Sepsis – bacterial infection through the blood stream
• Erythema nodosum – shin lumps that are red
• Bacterial endocarditis – infection of the heart valve
• Encephalopathy – infection of the brain

Encephalopathy is the least common complication, but is potentially the most severe. It can present with symptoms including seizures and a coma. However, with the right antibiotic treatment, the patient will usually completely recover.

READ Interesting Things about Dogs and Cats

Diagnosing Catscratch Fever

For a diagnosis of Catscratch Fever to be made, there are four criteria, three of which need to be present:

• Cat contact and a related lesion or scratch
• Regional lymphadenopathy
• Biopsy of the lymph node or skin confirmation
• Positive skin test

Catscratch Disease: Treatment And Prevention

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.

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.