Infectious Disease Blog

An agitated meow. A quick swipe at your face.

Ouch! You find yourself with an infected wound a couple days later.

Did you ever consider that you may have Cat Scratch Disease?

Cat Scratch Disease is caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae, according to the CDC. Patients of the disease are people who have been bitten or scratched by a cat and developed a mild infection where they were injured.

According to the CDC, symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease may include:

• Lymph nodes, especially those around the head, neck, and upper limbs, become swollen
• May experience fever, headache, fatigue, and a poor appetite
• Rare complications of B. henselae infection are bacillary angiomatosis and Parinaud’s oculolandular syndrome

For most people, there’s little reason for alarm. The disease is a mild infection that they may not even be aware of having, according to The (Annapolis) Capital.

However, Dr. Edward McSweegan, the writer of that article, brought up that patients with weakened immune systems may face significant problems if they fall ill with the disease.

“That may not be true for HIV patients and others with underlying illnesses or immuno-deficiencies. Among such patients, more serious infections may occur (such as bacillary angiomatosis), and prolonged antibiotic therapy may be necessary to prevent a life-threatening infection and related complications.”

Thanks for the plug.

Fellow freelancer and microbiologist,

E.M.