Everything about Cat Scratch Fever totally explained
Cat scratch fever is a usually benign
infectious disease caused by the intracellular bacterium
Bartonella. It is most commonly found in children 1-2 weeks following a cat scratch. It was first described in
1889 by
Henri Parinaud.
Transmission
The cat was recognized as the
vector of the disease in
1950 by Dr. Robert Debré.
The causative organism was first thought to be
Afipia felis, but this was disproved by immunological studies demonstrating that cat scratch fever patients developed antibodies to two other organisms,
Bartonella henselae and
Bartonella clarridgeiae, which are rod-shaped
Gram negative bacteria.
Kittens are more likely to carry the
bacteria in their
blood, and are therefore more likely to transmit the disease than are adult
cats.
Ticks are also a major transmitter of this disease. It is often transmitted at the same time a human may get
Lyme Disease. It is often missed when people are tested and diagnosed for Lyme Disease as the symptoms can be similar, such as fatigue, and headaches.
Other names
The condition has also been termed Cat-Scratch Adenitis, Cat-Scratch-Oculoglandular Syndrome, Debre's Syndrome, Debre-Mollaret Syndrome, Foshay-Mollaret Cat-Scratch Fever, Foshay-Mollaret syndrome, Foshay-Mollaret Cat-Scratch Fever Syndrome, Lymphadenitis-Regional Non-bacterial, Lymphoreticulosis-Benign Inoculation,
maladie des griffes du chat, Parinaud oculoglandular disease, and Petzetakis' disease.
Signs and symptoms
Cat scratch fever presents with tender regional
lymphadenopathy, sterile suppurative
papules at the site of
inoculation, slight
fever,
headache,
chills,
backache, abdominal pain,
malaise, alteration of mental status, and
convulsions. It may take 7 to 14 days, or as long as two months, before symptoms appear. Most cases are
benign and self-limiting, but
lymphadenopathy may persist for several months after other symptoms disappear. The prognosis is generally favorable. In temperate climates, most cases occur in fall and winter. The disease usually resolves spontaneously, with or without treatment, in one month. In
immunocompromised patients more severe complications sometimes occur.
Treatment
Azithromycin,
ciprofloxacin,
doxycycline, and multiple other antibiotics have been used successfully.
In popular culture
The American rock guitarist
Ted Nugent wrote a song called
Cat Scratch Fever.
Episode 33 of
Batman the Animated Series is entitled
Cat Scratch Fever; however, it should be noted the disease
Selina Kyle has isn't true CSF.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Cat Scratch Fever'.
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