What Is Cat Scratch Fever?

Cat scratch fever is a bacterial infection caused by human interaction with cats. This condition is also referred to as cat scratch disease (CSD). Cat scratch fever is marked by several unpleasant symptoms, including swollen lymph glands and skin bumps, but is rarely serious, and typically goes away in a period of a few weeks. Antibiotics and over-the-counter medications are used to treat it. Complications are rare except in individuals with a compromised immune system.

If you or a loved one is showing signs of cat scratch fever, be sure to seek medical care. The physicians of the Baptist Health primary-care network are ready to serve you.

What Are Cat Scratch Fever Symptoms?

Common symptoms of cat scratch fever include:

• Swollen lymph nodes (called lymphadenopathy)
• Skin bumps or rashes
• Achy joints and muscles
• Fatigue
• Low-grade fever
• Loss of appetite

Less common symptoms are:

• Sore throat
• Chills
• Backache and/or abdominal pain
• Weight loss

These latter symptoms may indicate a more intensive form of the disease.

What Causes Cat Scratch Fever?

Cat scratch fever is a bacterial infection. The bacterium that causes the disease, Bartonella henselae, is carried by fleas, which transfer the pathogen to cats when biting them. The latter serve as a reservoir for B. henselae and are capable of hosting it for long periods without exhibiting signs of the disease. Cats in turn spread the pathogen to humans through:

• Bites
• Scratches
• Licking open cuts or wounds

In rare cases, fleas or ticks may transfer the pathogen directly to humans. Infections occur most commonly in young children and teenagers but anyone who is in regular contact with a cat or cats runs an increased risk of CSD. Persons with weakened immune systems – for example, individuals with diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, or transplanted organs – also have greater exposure.

How Is Cat Scratch Fever Diagnosed?

Cat scratch fever is typically diagnosed in a primary-care setting. Your physician or medical provider will inspect:

• Your bite or scratch site
• Any skin bumps or rashes (which are usually located near the contact site)
• Your lymph glands

If this is insufficient to make a diagnosis, your provider may order a blood test to identify the presence of the B. henselae bacterium. He or she may also take a tissue sample from your lymph nodes, looking for the same pathogen.

How Is Cat Scratch Fever Treated?

Cat scratch fever doesn’t always require treatment, especially in otherwise healthy individuals. Treatment, when it occurs, is focused on symptom control. Options include:

• Antibiotics to rid the body of the bacterial pathogen
• Over-the-counter pain-relief medications
• The use of aspiration technology to drain excess fluid from the glands

Cat scratch fever tends to lessen over the course of a few weeks. There are no serious long-term effects for most persons with the disease. Hospitalization is unlikely.

Can Cat Scratch Fever be Prevented?

The primary means of preventing cat scratch fever is avoiding situations in which a cat might bite, scratch, or lick you. Steps that you can take include:

• Care for your pet cat. Use flea- and tick-prevention medications. Trim your cat’s nails. Schedule regular checkups with your veterinarian.
• Avoid playing rough with your cat. Cats may be domesticated but they retain their animal instincts. Rough play increases the likelihood of a bite or scratch.
• Avoid contact with stray cats, especially those living outdoors. Outdoor cats are more likely to come into contact with fleas.
• Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands after petting or playing with a cat. Pay special attention to any areas where your skin may have been broken during contact.

Learn More About Cat Scratch Fever

Cat scratch fever is a flea-borne bacterial infection that is transmitted to humans by cats through biting, scratching, or the licking of sores or wounds. Though hardly ever fatal, it has several unpleasant and sometimes painful symptoms, including swollen glands, skin bumps or rashes, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Antibiotics and other forms of medical care can help you manage symptoms while the disease gradually subsides.

Contact your Baptist Health primary care physician’s office for diagnosis and treatment.