Cat Scratch Disease - How Does It Happen?1

By Ron King
Symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease

Cat scratch disease is a malady spread by cats, but that affects only humans; it's also called cat scratch fever. Cat scratch disease symptoms are most usually diagnosed in the colder winter and fall months of the year for reasons scientists don't understand; it's possible that cats are more likely to be indoors at this time, elevating the chance of human exposure overall to feline diseases.

Cat scratch disease is caused by bacteria called Bartonella henselea that commonly lives in the mouths of cats. They spread it to their claws by routine grooming. Interestingly, cat scratch disease is not transmitted through cat bites, only through cat scratches.

Most Americans have been exposed to cat scratch disease, and 5% of the US population has antibodies in their blood but no history of clinical malady. Because antibodies are only produced in response to the invasion of a disease, it is clear that they were exposed to Bartonella directly. It is possible that they did not subsequently fall ill, or that the disease was mistaken for the flu.

Cat scratch disease reveals flu-like symptoms. The most common symptoms include fever, chills, and lethargy, but they last for only a few days, much shorter than most flu's.

There is a more severe strain of cat scratch disease that causes high fever, anorexia, weakness, and badly swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the armpits and groin area. Sometimes the lymph swelling gets so severe that the swelling spontaneously ruptures; at other times, doctors choose to surgically drain them to prevent the rupture and relieve the pain.

Typically, the most acute form of the disease is seen in younger children and the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems, such as those who have HIV, are receiving chemotherapy, or who have been the recipient of an organ donation. When the acute form of the disease presents itself, the consequences for the victim can be disability or even death.

If the disease in humans is treated immediately with antibiotics, the outcome is usually good, but it's very hard to diagnose because cat scratch disease symptoms it's so similar to flu and because it is not a familiar disease. Cat scratch disease is often overlooked in its earliest stages, and only revealed when the lymph nodes are involved. Almost every confirmed case of cat scratch disease follows a cat scratch wound; a few occur after a bite, and a few feline diseases even crop up with no noticeable cause.

Another oddity of cat scratch disease is that rarely are adult cats involved in the transmission. Generally, a kitten scratch delivers the disease. This does not mean you should not worry about it with an older cat, but only that you should worry more from kittens. It is contagious for only about two or three weeks in a kitten, after which it goes dormant. It can recur, however.

Kittens can be diagnosed as cat scratch disease carriers by a simple blood test, and positive kittens can be remedied successfully with antibiotics. Because this disease can come back, however, this is not a silver bullet for preventing cat scratch disease. De-clawing kittens at an early age is the best way to stop infection. You should be aware of the results to the cat before de-clawing it, however. Not only can it be dangerous for the cat to go outside, it can also be psychologically shocking and cause unexpected complications like arthritis.

For more info, see Cat Scratch Disease and Feline Diseases. Ron King is a web developer; read his articles on Cat Diseases.

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