Cat Scratch Disease
Complete Human Diseases and Conditions
|
2008
|
Copyright 2008, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.. (Hide copyright information)
Copyright
Cat Scratch Disease
What Is Cat Scratch Disease?
Who Gets Cat Scratch Disease?
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of the Disease?
How Do Doctors Treat Cat Scratch Disease?
Complications
Prevention
Resources
Cat scratch disease is an infectious illness that can cause flulike symptoms and swelling of lymph nodes*. It is caused by bacteria carried in cat saliva. The bacteria usually enter the body from a cat scratch or a bite that breaks the skin.
- *lymph
- (LIMF) nodes are small, bean-shaped masses of tissue that contain immune system cells that fight harmful microorganisms. Lymph nodes may swell during infections.
KEYWORDS
for searching the Internet and other reference sources
Bartonella henselae bacteria
Illnesses associated with cats
Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome
Cat scratch disease (also called cat scratch fever) is caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae (bar-tuh-NEH-luh HEN-suh-lay), which is found in the saliva of cats and kittens all over the world. About 3 to 10 days after a person is bitten or scratched by a cat, a blister or small bump may develop. This is called an inoculation (ih-nah-kyoo-LAY-shun) lesion, which means that it appears at the site where germs entered the body. Usually about 2 weeks later, there is inflammation of nearby lymph nodes. If the scratch or bite is on the arm, the lymph nodes on the arm or in the armpit will become swollen. Swelling also can develop in the lymph nodes in the neck or groin, depending on the site of the scratch or bite.
People of any age can get the disease, but most cases occur in children and teens. It is estimated that there are about 24,000 cases of cat scratch disease each year in the United States. Members of the same household can become ill if they are scratched or bitten by the same infected cat. Cat scratch disease affects 9 of every 100,000 persons each year worldwide. People can get the disease only from infected cats and kittens. It cannot be transmitted from person to person, but it can spread among cats. It is thought that cats and kittens can become infected with Bartonella henselae from fleas.
The most common symptoms of cat scratch disease are a bite or scratch that does not heal normally; painful or swollen glands (lymph nodes), especially in the armpit or near the inside of the elbow; fever; headache; fatigue; joint pain; and sometimes a rash. Less common symptoms are weight loss, sore throat, and draining lymph nodes. If a person is suspected of having cat scratch disease, the doctor will ask about any recent contact with a cat and will look for signs of a cat scratch or bite, swollen lymph nodes, or an inoculation lesion. In some cases, a person with cat scratch disease does not recall having had contact with a cat. Blood tests can rule out other causes of swollen nodes and check for the presence of antibodies* to the bacteria that cause the disease. In some cases, a doctor will use a needle to take a sample (a piece of tissue) from a swollen lymph node for examination under a microscope.
- *antibodies
- (AN-tih-bah-deez) are protein molecules produced by the body’s immune system to help fight specific infections caused by microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses.
Antibiotics may be prescribed for cat scratch disease, but some doctors advise taking these medications only in severe cases. Most people eventually get well without treatment. If the patient is otherwise healthy, rest and over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (uh-see-teh-MIH-noh-fen), to relieve pain and fever are all that are needed while waiting for the disease to run its course. If a lymph node becomes very swollen and painful, the doctor may decide to drain it. Treatment with antibiotics often is recommended for patients who have weakened immune systems as the result of other illnesses. The symptoms in most patients usually resolve after several weeks of treatment with antibiotics and within 3 months without antibiotic treatment. Swollen lymph nodes may take several months to return to normal size. Most people recover completely from the illness. After an episode of cat scratch disease, people are usually immune to it, meaning that they cannot get the disease again.
Generally, cat scratch disease is not serious in people who are healthy. But people with weak immune systems, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus* (HIV) infection or poorly controlled diabetes* and those receiving chemotherapy for cancer, have a greater risk of complications and need to be watched closely by their health care providers. These complications include hepatitis*, osteomyelitis*, encephalitis*, and retinitis*. Sometimes cat scratch disease can appear in the form of Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome (PAH-rih-nod ok-yoo-lo-GLAN-dyoo-ler SIN-drome). In this condition, a small sore and inflammation develop in the membrane lining the inner eyelid, called the conjunctiva (kon-jung-TIE-vuh), accompanied by swollen lymph nodes around the ear. Rubbing one’s eyes after handling an infected cat can transmit the infection to the conjunctiva, because the bacteria can be present on the cat’s coat wherever it licks itself.
- *human immunodeficiency
- (HYOO-mun ih-myoo-no-dih-FIH-shen-see) virus , or HIV, is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), an infection that severely weakens the immune system.
- *diabetes
- (dye-uh-BEE-teez) is a condition in which the body’s pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body cannot use the insulin it makes effectively, resulting in increased levels of sugar in the blood. This can lead to increased urination, dehydration, weight loss, weakness, and a number of other symptoms and complications related to chemical imbalances within the body.
- *hepatitis
- (heh-puh-TIE-tis) is an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and a number of other noninfectious medical conditions.
- *osteomyelitis
- (ah-stee-o-my-uh-LYE-tis) is a bone infection that is usually caused by bacteria. It can involve any bone in the body, but it most commonly affects the long bones in the arms and legs.
- *encephalitis
- (en-seh-fuh-LYE-tis) is an inflammation of the brain, usually caused by a viral infection.
- *retinitis
- (reh-tin-EYE-tis) is an inflammation of the retina, the nerve-rich membrane at the back of the eye on which visual images form.
About 30 percent of American households have pet cats. Keeping cats indoors and free of fleas may help prevent them from contracting the infection. It is a good idea to avoid stray or unfamiliar cats and not to provoke any cat or kitten to the point that it scratches or bites. Thoroughly cleaning any wounds inflicted by a cat may help prevent infection.
See also
Encephalitis
Hepatitis, Infectious
The Nature of Germs and Infection
Osteomyelitis
Rabies
Toxoplasmosis
Organizations
American Academy of Family Physicians, 11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Leawood, KS 66211-2672. The American Academy of Family Physicians posts information about cat scratch disease at its website.
Telephone 800-274-2237 http://www.familydoctor.org
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894. The National Library of Medicine has a website packed with information on diseases (including cat scratch disease) and drugs, consumer resources, dictionaries and encyclopedias of medical terms, and directories of doctors and helpful organizations.
Telephone 888-346-3656 http://www.nlm.nih.gov
Website
KidsHealth.org. KidsHealth is a website created by the medical experts of the Nemours Foundation and is devoted to issues of children’s health. It contains articles on a variety of health topics, including cat scratch disease.
http://www.KidsHealth.org
Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.
|
Modello Designs: taking the next step in decorative concrete.
Magazine article from: Concrete Concepts; 12/1/2005; 700+ words
; Modello Designs Decorative Masking Patterns[TM...OMITTED] The results: Simply amazing! Use Modello Designs as the design arm of your decorative...fire ring or indoor dining room table? Modello Designs can accommodate all those design...
|
|
|
Modello Designs.(DECORATIVE)
Magazine article from: Concrete Concepts; 6/1/2006; 311 words
; Modello Designs creates custom decorative masking patterns for artistic concrete...ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Hundreds of customizable designs and patterns available * Modello can also create one-of-a-kind designs from original artwork or logos...
|
|
Il vescovo e il concilio: Modello episcopale e aggiornamento al Vaticano II.(Book review)
Magazine article from: Theological Studies; 6/1/2007; ; 700+ words
; IL VESCOVO E IL CONCILIO: MODELLO EPISCOPALE E AGGIORNAMENTO AL VATICANO II. By Massimo Faggioli. Bologna: Mulino, 2005. Pp. 476. 32 [euro]. More than...
|
|
Sand-Tech is the QuickWood Modello QRB.(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Wood & Wood Products; 8/1/2000; 480 words
; Also available from Sand-Tech is the QuickWood Modello QRB. It incorporates a vertical pneumatic clamping device that allows for sanding the edges of a stack of workpieces automatically...
|
|
Il poema epico ad una svolta: Trissino tra modello omerico e modello virgiliano.
Magazine article from: Italica; 9/22/2003; ; 700+ words
; Nel dare alle stampe il primo volume del suo poema L'Italia liberata dai Gotthi (Roma, 1547), (1) Giovan Giorgio Trissino indicava, nella lettera di dedica all'imperatore Carlo V, le linee essenziali che aveva inteso seguire nel proporre la riforma di questo genere di composizione: "mi sono
|
|
Grupo Modello Nearing Completion of Idaho Malting Plant, an Advisory from Industrialinfo.com.
Business Wire; 12/17/2004; 349 words
; HOUSTON -- Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources Incorporated; Houston). Grupo Modelo (Mexico City, Mexico) (Bolsa De Valores Mexican:GMODELO), a Mexico City based brewer, is completing construction on a new $64 million barley malting plant. For details on this
|
|
|
Versum efficit ipsa relatio contrariorum: il modello agostiniano del dissidio in Petrarca.
Magazine article from: Italica; 6/22/2006; ; 700+ words
; Venit autem hoc de poena peccati, ut homo adversus seipsum divideretur, qui uni subditus noluit (Questa e la pena del peccato, che l'uomo fosse diviso in se stesso, perche non volle sottomettersi all'Uno; Sant'Agostino, Enarrationes in Psalmos 70, 2, 1) Ita duae voluntates meae, una vetus, alia
|
|
|
Merant's Holistic, Process-Driven Approach to Change Management Evaluated by Industry Analyst Firm; Merant Listed As ''Challenger'' in New Report on Methodware.
Business Wire; 9/17/2003; 700+ words
; ...market through the introduction of Merant Modello(TM), Merant's comprehensive asset...EssentialSET library, now known as Merant Modello, is bundled with Merant Dimensions...the analyst community." About Merant Modello Merant Modello, formerly known as Merant...
|
|
Conflitto tra carne e spirito: ambiguita neoplatonica nella poesia di Gaspara Stampa.(Critical Essay)
Magazine article from: Italian Culture; 1/1/2001; ; 700+ words
; ...cercare di riconoscere le deviazioni dal modello petrarchesco che costituiscono appunto...linguistiche e stilistiche, le riallacciano al modello petrarchesco. Petrarca non rappresenta comunque l'unico modello per la Stampa. Sembra che la poetessa...
|
|
Dana E. Stewart. The Arrow of Love. Optics, Gender, and Subjectivity in Medieval Love Poetry.(ITALIAN BOOKSHELF)(Book review)
Magazine article from: Annali d'Italianistica; 1/1/2004; ; 700+ words
; ...platonico e quello aristotelico. Secondo il modello platonico, l'occhio emana raggi luminosi...continuo fino al secolo XIV, quando il modello aristotelico divenne predominante. I...attraverso gli occhi viene descritto secondo il modello immissionista di stampo aristotelico...
|
|
modello
Book article from: The Oxford Dictionary of Art
modello. A preparatory drawing or painting for a larger work, particularly one...and give him a clear idea of the picture that the artist had in mind, a modello was more elaborate and fully worked out than a sketch or bozzetto . Rubens...
|
|
sketch
Book article from: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists
...unpretentious nature’. A sketch should be distinguished from a ‘study’, which is a representation of a detail to be used in a large composition and may be highly finished. See also Bozzetto and Modello .
|
|
model
Book article from: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology
...representation or figure in three dimensions; exemplar, pattern XVII. — F. † modelle , now modèle — It. modello : Rom. * modellus , for L. modulus , dim. of modus (see prec.). Hence vb. XVII.
|
|
|
Cavallino, Bernardo
Book article from: The Oxford Dictionary of Art
...About 80 paintings by him are extant, but only one is dated, St Cecilia in Ecstasy (1645, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence; a modello is in the Mus. di Capodimonte, Naples). Most of his pictures are small-format religious works, peopled by exquisitely...
|
|
|
bozzetto
Book article from: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists
...is sometimes also applied to an oil sketch. In this second sense, the word is not always clearly differentiated from modello , but it is useful to reserve the latter word for a somewhat more elaborate type of preliminary design, especially one intended...
|
