What is the Cat Scratch Disease?
Cat Scratch Disease is a "mild infection at the point of injury" from a cat scratch. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a poor appetite. Rare complications include:
- Bacillary angiomatosis: rapid spread of blood vessels. The spreading creates lumps on the surface and under the skin, which can appear tumor-like.
- Parinaud’s oculoglandular syndrome: lymph nodes around the eye become enlarged with pink eye (conjunctivitis).
There is a helpful article from the CDC about Cat Scratch Disease as well as a scholarly article by PHDs.
A bite or scratch from a cat may lead to a more serious problem known as the cat scratch disease. The cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection caused by a cat’s bite or scratch. It can also be the result of a cat licking an open wound on your body. Cats get the bacteria from fleas, and transmit it to people via their saliva Cat scratch disease is harmless to the cat but it is harmful to people who have been scratched, bitten or licked by a cat.Symptoms of Cat Scratch DiseasePeople who suffer from cat scratch disease largely experience the swelling of the lymph nodes. Other symptoms may include fatigue, headache, fever, sore throat or loss of appetite.Treatment of Cat Scratch DiseaseAlmost all episodes of cat scratch disease will go away on their own. Non-prescription medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen could help alleviate the pain in the lymph nodes. It is a good idea to see a doctor to confirm diagnosis and seek treatment if you are unsure do not know what to do some of the
