HOW IS BARTONELLOSIS DIAGNOSED AND TREATED?
Clinical diagnosis of CSD in people is based on the detection of swollen lymph nodes and an infected cat scratch or bite. In people with less typical forms of CSD, clinical diagnosis is not easy and usually requires laboratory tests that can confirm the presence or show evidence of Bartonella infection. Because many cats show evidence of past exposure to Bartonella without posing a current risk of disease transmission, routine laboratory testing of cats is not recommended. However, veterinarians may perform laboratory tests for Bartonella infection in dogs that are ill and have a history of tick exposure. Treatment for CSD in people depends on the types of symptoms that develop. In immunocompetent people with typical CSD, several types of antibiotics can be used for treatment. However, in most instances, antibiotics do not appear to shorten or improve the course of infection and symptoms resolve on their own in a few weeks. In immunocompromised individuals or those with severe complica
