Cat Scratch Fever

Cat scratch Disease popularly recognized by the abbreviation CSD is also referred to in medical journals as cat scratch fever. Clinically cat scratch fever is identified as inoculation lymphoreticulosis and sub-acute lymphadenitis.

Cat Scratch Fever is a disease that can be transferred from cats to humans, through scratches or bites. The root cause of cat scratch fever is the bacteria called Bartonella henselae which is transferred from fleas or ticks to a feline and then transferred to humans. It is observed that the bacteria causing cat scratch fever thrives in the paws, saliva and skin of felines.

Even though domesticated cats carry the bacteria, they do not show any occurrence of the symptoms or succumb to the disease. Cat scratch fever affects only humans.

This disease poses little cause for alarm as the treatment options are now freely available. Cat scratch fever is a benign disease and usually healling takes between 4 – 8 weeks. The pet product industry, vets from across the globe and the medical fraternity have combined efforts to spread awareness about cat scratch fever.

The symptoms of cat scratch fever confuse you for a while since the occurrence remains pretty dormant and simple flu like for a while. It pays to conduct some quality online research and investigate the occurrence prior to it taking a toll on the health of some family member.

The earliest stance of cat scratch fever on record dates back to 1889 and is credited to a discovery by noted scientist Henri Parinaud. Research shows that approximately 25,000 people get infected with the disease each year. About 50% of all the cats on the planet are carriers of the bacteria at some point in their life. Statistics report that Less than ten percent of people exposed to the risk of being scratched by a cat actually develop the sickness.

Other Names for Cat Scratch Fever

The cat scratch fever condition is known within the medical fraternity by many other names too. It is commonly also referred to as Cat Scratch Disease, Cat Scratch Adenitis, Debre's Syndrome, Cat Scratch Oculoglandular Syndrome, Foshay-Mollaret Cat Scratch Fever, Debre-Mollaret Syndrome and Foshay-Mollaret Cat Scratch Fever Syndrome. The disease is sometimes also referred to as Lymphadenitis Regional Non-bacterial/ Benign Inoculation and the Parinaud oculoglandular disease.

Quick Symptoms Guide:

The majority of people infected with cat scratch fever are children, most probably because they are more likely to play with a kitten/cat and may result in being scratched or bitten.

Symptoms usually occur between 3 to 10 days after a cat scratch or bite has been received, but can take longer.

Firstly a rash, ulcer or nodule (small bump like a insect bite) may develop in the area of the cat scratch or bite

Within a couple of weeks the lymph nodes nearest to the wound will swell. Most Children will only experience swollen lymph nodes especially in mild cases.

Other symptoms may include: fever, chills, headache, Bone/joint pain, abdominal pain and fatigue for 2 or 3 days.