Cat Scratch Fever
A sad and painful disease that starts with cats
An Overview Of Cat Scratch Fever
Cat Scratch fever started in 1931, USA, when it was first described by Robert Debre. It would usually affect the part of the body the cat has been harming. When the disease gets to the blood stream, the head, the neck, and the upper limbs will be the most noticeable along with it being swollen. It will form a pimple looking- bump on the part of the body that has been affected.
The Cause Of Having Cat Scratch Disease
Cat scratch fever is caused by a cat having the disease Bartonella. Bartonella is a bacteria that lives inside cells, and can affect mammals and wild animals. If a cat with this disease bites, scratches, or licks you, you may get cat scratch fever. It is possible to not get it by washing your hands promptly with water and soap after you have been licked, bitten, or scratched, but that won't always help in this case.
The Incidence of Cat Scratch Fever
Cat scratch fever affects about 25,000 people each year worldwide. Most of these people that get infected are kids. This is because kids play more with cats than adults do. But, the mortality rate is 30% which means it is unlikely of death, unless it is really serious. Another thing is, it does affect most people in USA so, most people in other countries including ours are unlikely of getting cat scratch fever
Incidence
Kid playing with cat that has bartonella.
Signs and Symptoms
Child with fever from having cat scratch fever
Signs and Symptoms
Weight loss from serious cat scratch fever vomiting.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms that show that you have cat scratch fever are:
-pimple looking bump
-sleepiness
-fever
-headache
-swelling near the scratch, bite, or lick
-discomfort
- if serious it can lead to vomiting which leads to weight loss
The Diagnosis and Treatment for Cat Scratch Disease
If the doctor thinks you have cat scratch fever, he/she will do an examination to check if your spleen (an organ above your stomach) is enlarged. If there is an accurate diagnosis to be made, the doctor will then do a Bartonella Henselae IFA (Indirect fluorescent antibody) blood test on you. If the disease is large and really painful, the doctor will remove the disease fluid out with a needle. If the disease isn't that bad it would resolve on it's own. But, if it is serious, the doctor will give you special antibiotics for cat scratch fever