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| Cat Scratch Disease, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications |
Cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection spread by cats. Cat scratch disease occurs when a cat bites or scratches causing a wound, or when a cat licks an open wound on human skin.
Cat scratch disease is classified as a zoonotic disease, which is an infectious disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. However, cat scratch disease cannot be transmitted between humans.
In healthy people, cat scratch disease can heal itself within 2-4 weeks. However, people with weak immune systems, such as people with HIV/AIDS or autoimmune diseases, are at risk for severe complications of cat scratch disease.
Causes of Paint Scratch Disease
Cat scratch disease is caused by infection with the bacteria Bartonella henselae. These bacteria can live and thrive in the claws and mouth of cats. Therefore, someone who is bitten or scratched by a cat infected with these bacteria can get cat scratch disease.
Apart from being bitten or scratched, cats can also transmit bacteria through licking open wounds on human skin. In rare cases, cat fleas that have been infected with the bacteria Bartonella henselae can also transmit cat scratch disease to humans.
Risk factors for cat scratch disease
There are several factors that can increase a person's risk of suffering from cat scratch disease, namely:
- Keeping cats, especially small cats who are more active
- Not cleaning cat scratch or bite wounds immediately
- Let the cat lick the open wound on the skin
- Does not get rid of cat fleas
In addition to the above factors, cat scratch disease is also more prone to occur in someone with a weak immune system, such as pregnant women, people with cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, or patients undergoing organ transplants.
Symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease
Cats infected with the bacterium Bartonella henselae are generally asymptomatic and do not get sick. Even so, B. henselae bacteria can live in a cat's body for several months. As a result, it is difficult to know if the cat is infected or not.
In contrast to cats, someone infected with the bacteria Bartonella henselae will show symptoms 3–10 days after being scratched or bitten. Some of the symptoms that usually appear are:
- Mild fever
- Bumps or sores on the skin that were bitten or scratched
- Swollen lymph nodes near the area of the bite or scratch
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Body aches
In addition to the above symptoms, patients may also experience other complaints, such as:
- Lost appetite
- Weight loss
- Sore throat
If the condition worsens, the patient may also experience the following symptoms:
- Stomach pain
- Back pain
- Shivering
- Joint pain
- Red rash on the skin
- Prolonged fever
When to go to the doctor
Check with a doctor if you experience the symptoms mentioned above, especially if symptoms appear after being bitten or scratched by a cat, as well as caring for a cat at home or at work.
Immediately see a doctor if the symptoms you experience show signs that the infection has spread to other organs of the body. Some of the signs are:
- High fever
- daze
- Severe headache
- Chest pain
- Seizure
- Severe stomach ache
- Hard to breathe
- Nausea and vomiting
Diagnosis of Cat Scratch Disease
To diagnose cat scratch disease, the doctor will ask questions regarding the symptoms experienced, medical history, and history of direct contact with cats.
After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination, especially on the area affected by the cat scratch or bite, and check for swollen lymph nodes.
Next, the doctor will carry out supporting examinations to confirm the diagnosis, including:
- Blood tests, to detect the presence of infection-fighting antibodies
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, to determine the presence of bacteria in the blood
- Lymph node biopsy, to identify the bacteria Bartonella henselae by taking a lymph node sample
Cat Scratch Disease Treatment
Treatment of cat scratch disease is tailored to the patient's health condition and severity. In patients whose immune system is normal, cat scratch disease can generally heal on its own. However, your doctor can give you pain medication, such as ibuprofen, to relieve pain and swelling.
Meanwhile, in patients with weak immune systems, doctors will prescribe antibiotics, such as azithromycin. This drug can overcome the bacteria and prevent the infection from spreading to other organs of the body.
In addition to drugs, doctors can advise patients to compress the area that is experiencing swelling to subside. If the swelling is very painful and gets bigger, your doctor may perform minor surgery to remove the fluid in it.
Complications of Cat Scratch Disease
Although very rare, cat scratch disease can cause serious complications, especially in someone with a weak immune system. Some of the complications are:
- Encephalitis
- Damage to the retina of the eye
- Osteomyelitis
- Oculoglandular Parinaud syndrome, which is inflammation of the eye accompanied by swollen lymph nodes
- Swelling of the liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly)
- Inflammation of the heart valves (endocarditis)
Prevention of Paint Scratch Disease
Cat scratch disease can be prevented by taking the following efforts:
- Avoid cat bites or scratches.
- Wash hands with soap and running water after playing with cats.
- Don't let the cat lick the sores on your skin.
- Take good care of your cat, such as trimming his nails regularly.
- Regularly use anti-flea products to get rid of fleas on cats
- Do not keep and play actively with stray cats.
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