Cat Scratch Fever: More Than A Popular Song

I do not know if Ted Nugent ever actually got Cat Scratch Disease as a child. But whether he did or not, humans can actually contract a disease from cats.

"Cat Scratch Fever" is the common name given to a Bartonella henselae (B. Henselae) infection. It is hard to avoid it because cats that carry this disease do not show any signs that they are infected. If you have cats, or encounter them often, your risk for contracting cat scratch disease (CSD) is greatly increased.

It is called "cat scratch fever" because, upon the spread of the disease - through a cat bite, scratch or even contact with the cat's saliva on a break in the skin, or the eyes - a bacterial infection develops. This can result in swollen lymph nodes near the site of the infection, headaches, fever, malaise (discomfort), and occurring less often - a sore throat, weight loss resulting from a loss of appetite, or even an enlarged spleen.

Despite the nasty name, cat scratch fever is usually only dangerous in people with weakened immune systems, and hopefully even then, antibiotics can help them to recover quickly. Without treatment, however, rarely CSD can lead to seizures, an inflammation of the eyes (retinitis) or brain (encephalitis). It is important, then, to take care around cats, and especially kittens, as they are generally the ones who carry this bacteria. Avoid rough play, especially if you are an immunocompromised person.

If you suspect that you have contracted the disease - and if you have, you will usually initially notice a bump or swollen lymph nodes near the site of the scratch or bite - see you doctor right away. It is important to "nip this infection in the bud" before it has the opportunity to get out of hand. 

Cat scratch disease is an example of a zoonotic illnesswhich is a disease of animals that may be transmitted to man under natural conditions. CSD is just one of many such diseases, including ringworm, rabies, lyme disease, brucellosis, tuberculosis, MRSA, even plague. Humans can get diseases from cats. In some cases, the same medicine we might use to treat ourselves can also be used to treat our animals, with counsel from a licensed veterinarian or pet professional first.

A cat with CSD does not need treatment, but in this case, a human who contracts it does.

Did you know:

An alternative option to high veterinarian medicine prices and paid pet prescription plans is to use a high quality pet discount prescription card like the one provided by Discount Rx Services. Their card is accepted by over 60,000 retail pharmacies from major national chains to local and regional units all across the united States. 

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