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Cat Scratch Disease
Alternate Names : Bartonellosis, Cat Scratch Fever, CSD
Definition Cat scratch disease is an infectious illness caused by the bacteria Bartonella, believed to be transmitted by cat scratches, bites, or exposure to cat saliva. This leads to swelling of the lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) near the site of the scratch or bite.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae. The disease is spread through contact with an infected cat, as a result of a cat bite or scratch, or contact with cat saliva on broken skin or the conjunctiva of the eye.
Lymph node swelling begins about 2 to 3 weeks after exposure and may persist for months. Swelling may occur at the site of the initial infection followed by enlarged lymph nodes along the lymph drainage route from the injury site.
Occasionally, nodes may form a fistula through the skin and drain. Cat scratch disease is one of the common causes of chronic lymph node swelling in children. Until now, the disease often went unrecognized because of the difficulty in testing.
Recently however, the Bartonella henselae IFA test was shown to be highly sensitive and specific for the detection of infection caused by Bartonella henselae and for the diagnosis of cat scratch disease.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Cat Scratch Disease Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Cat Scratch Disease Symptoms & Signs
• Cat Scratch Disease Prevention
• Cat Scratch Disease Diagnosis & Tests
• Cat Scratch Disease Treatment
• Cat Scratch Disease Prognosis
• Cat Scratch Disease Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• AIDS
• Lymph Follicular Hypertrophy
• Osteomyelitis
• Parinaud's Syndrome
Tests & Exams
• CSD Skin Test
• Lymph Node Biopsy
Other Topics
• Appetite - Decreased
• Chronic
• Conjunctiva
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Fistula
• Headache
• Malaise
• Neuroretinitis
• Papule
• Physical Examination
• Pustules
• Sore Throat
• Splenomegaly
• Swelling
• Swollen Glands
• Weight Loss - Unintentional
Review Date : 1/5/2002
Reviewed By : Camille Kotton, M.D., Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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