Ten Facts About Cat Scratch Fever
Cat scratch fever is not only a song, (a classic at that!) but also an infectious bacteria disease most commonly brought on by a bite or scratch by a feline.
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Henri Parinaud first mentioned Cat Scratch Fever (CSF) in medical literature in 1889. However, Dr. Robert Debre is the primary doctor to assign, in 1931, its name upon discovering that felines are the vectors- carrier organisms of the disease.
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CSF is a bacterial disease caused by Bartonella henselae. Initially CSF was thought to be caused by the Afipia felis organism but this was disproved when patients suffering from this disease developed antibodies to the Bartonella henselae bacteria.
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Kittens more so than adult cats are the primary carriers of the bacteria; consequently kittens are more likely to convey the disease to others than adult cats.
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Have you been bitten or scratched by a cat or kitten? DO not panic and automatically think the worse! Symptoms of this disease are slight fever, headache, backache, chills, and general malaise. Is the area of the bite or scratch red and swollen? Can you see the infection working its way upwards or downwards to your lymph nodes? Are your lymph nodes swollen?
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Sometimes symptoms do not show themselves for seven days to two months after the incident.
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The majority of CSF cases are benign and can clear on their own. Sometimes swollen lymph nodes take longer to dispel. Treatment is not always needed.
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Is someone is immunocompromised, the chance for more severe complications do arise. If you are immunocompromised and receive a cat scratch or bite, monitor it closely. Go to the doctor and apprise the staff of the situation.
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About forty percent of all kittens carry the bacteria, Bartonella henselae. Cats are carriers and have no signs of these bacteria, therefore there is no way to tell which kitties are carriers or not. Evidence has shown that fleas also carry these bacteria, yet no evidence has been discovered that being bitten from an infected flea can also give to CSF. Thusly, treat your cat for fleas!!!!
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Reduce the risk-avoid rough housing with kittens and cats. If you cannot (and that means me) then wash any bites and scratches immediately with warm soap and water. Have an open wound? Cover it up, place a bandage on it, and do not allow kittens or cats to lick the wound.
It is not the cats' fault they are carriers of this bacteria. There is no real way to know if your cat is a carrier or not.
Published by Lori Piper
Co- Director of South Texas Persian Rescue and all around animal lover. View profile
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Watch Your Skin Around Kittens, They Could Be Carrying CSDA rare and mild disease, cat scratch fever does occur even though it is not fatal.- What is Cat Scratch Fever?Cat Scratch Disease is an infection caused by a rickettsia bacterium called Bartonella. It is most often associated with a scratch, or less often, a bite from a cat.
Teach Your Kitten Not to Bite or ScratchWith consistency and regular reminders, cats can be trained not to bite or scratch. They can accept handling and grooming. You should never be afraid of your kitten.- Cat Scratch Fever - How Your Cat Can Make You SickAlthough cats are very clean animals, they still carry some zoonotic diseases that can be spread from cat to owner. Knowing the basics of these ailments can go a long way to avoiding the generally mild afflictions.
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10 Comments
Post a Commentany other facts? I only saw eight of the ten... anything special or irregular? Somehow a person at work decided to give me the job to report this disease...
I let my house cat scratch and bite me when we're playing. Sometimes I have marks up and down my arm after a play session.
never get catsratch fever u will regret having a cat
Whenever scratched by my cat (although he's getting up there in years and rarely scrathes anymore), I've learned to rub the area immediately with alcohol. This quickly reduces the itching and swelling and prmotes healing.
Excellent Article, and of course, remembering the song, ah, well!
Ted Nugent! Yeah! So if you get this illness from a kitten, is it called "Kitty Scratch Fever" or somethin'?
When my cats were younger, they used to scratch me and the scratch would swell and turn red, and hurt like the dickens.... for quite a few days, but it never went longer than that? is that related?
Great overlooked topic Lori. And few people realize it, but cat BITES are more dangerous than dog bites. Cat fangs penetrate much deeper, and often carry pasteurella & other dangerous bacterial infections.
I had noidea...thanks for the information
Wow, I didn't know a lot of that information. Thank you for sharing it. As a cat owner it's nice to know.