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Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae Infection) What is cat scratch disease? Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial disease caused by Bartonella henselae. Most people with CSD have been bitten or scratched by a cat and developed a mild infection at the point of injury. Lymph nodes, especially those around the head, neck, and upper limbs, become swollen. Additionally, a person with CSD may experience fever, headache, fatigue, and a poor appetite. Rare complications of B. henselae infection are bacillary angiomatosis and Parinaud's oculolandular syndrome. Can my cat transmit Bartonella henselae to me? Sometimes, yes, cats can spread B. henselae to people. Most people get CSD from cat bites and scratches. Kittens are more likely to be infected and to pass the bacterium to people. About 40% of cats carry B. henselae at some time in their lives. Cats that carry B. henselae do not show any signs of illness; therefore, you cannot tell which cats can spread the disease to you. People with immunocompromised conditions, such as those undergoing immunosuppressive treatments for cancer, organ transplant patients, and people with HIV/AIDS, are more likely than others to have complications of CSD. Although B. henselae has been found in fleas, so far there is no evidence that a bite from an infected flea can give you CSD. How can I reduce my risk of getting cat scratch disease from my cat?
How can I find more information about cat scratch disease? Cat-Scratch Disease in ChildrenTexas, September 2000August 2001. Morbitity and Mortality Weekly Report. Unraveling Mysteries Associated with Cat-Scratch Disease, Bacillary Angiomatosis, and Related Syndromes. Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal. January-March 1995, Volume 1, Number 1. Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Encephalitis Associated with Cat Scratch Disease -- Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Florida, 1994 . Morbitity and Mortality Weekly Report. December 16, 1994 / 43(49);909,915-916.
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This page last reviewed February 14, 2003 Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention US Department of Health and Human Services |