| Is it possible for my child to catch cat | | | | of cats carry this bacteria. It is |
| scratch fever from my cat or kitten? Is | | | | believed that this bacteria does not |
| there really a cat scratch fever | | | | harm cats. Cats appear to get this |
| disease? The answer is yes and yes. | | | | bacteria through infected fleas. Young |
| Cat scratch fever is a legitimate | | | | cats and kittens are more likely to be |
| disease and your child can catch it from | | | | able to transmit this infection. |
| your cat or kitten from a scratch or a | | | | This disease is not generally considered |
| bite. Cat Scratch fever is carried in | | | | dangerous to humans, although |
| your cat or kittens saliva. The cat can | | | | personally, if my child had it I would |
| transmit this disease through a scratch | | | | be very concerned. The disease seems to |
| if it has been licking or cleaning his | | | | be easier to catch in the fall or winter |
| paws. Rarely, a dog may even carry this | | | | for some reason. Children between the |
| bacteria. | | | | ages of 2 and 14 years old seem to be |
| If you think that you or your child has | | | | the most susceptible. |
| been exposed to or is suffering from | | | | You can identify a potential CSF |
| CSF, your smart move is to consult your | | | | infection if one or more of the |
| physician who can help pinpoint the | | | | following is present. |
| cause and prescribe proper treatment. | | | | *Pimples that arise at the site of a |
| This article is for your additional | | | | bite or scratch injury, they can last |
| information only. I feel that it is | | | | one to four weeks. |
| always smart to do your homework before | | | | *Lymph nodes nearby the injury may swell |
| you consult your physician. | | | | and feel tender. |
| CSF is one of those diseases that was | | | | *A cat scratch or bite that does not |
| easily tracked to cat scratches, but | | | | seem to heal in the usual span of time. |
| scientists could not prove or identify | | | | *Redness around the wound that lasts for |
| the actual cause of the problem until | | | | more then several days. |
| recently. It has been proven that this | | | | *Fever that arises after injury from a |
| disease is caused by the bacterium | | | | cat. |
| Bartonella. The bacteria can be passed | | | | *Headache and/or decreased appetite and |
| from cats or kittens to humans through | | | | or bone or joint pain after injury from |
| scratches and sometimes bites. It is | | | | a cat. |
| believed that you can even transfer this | | | | *Abdominal pain and/or lethargy after |
| bacteria to your eyes, without a scratch | | | | injury from a cat. |
| or bite because your cat can carry this | | | | CSF clears up by itself without |
| bacteria in his saliva. | | | | treatment in most people. Again, I |
| The obvious ways to avoid this disease | | | | personally would be vary wary when it |
| is to not get bitten or scratched and to | | | | concerns a child and I would consult my |
| wash your hands after handling your cat | | | | physician. The disease can be diagnosed |
| or kitten or his belongings. Also, try | | | | with a blood test. A skin test was once |
| to be sure that fleas are not present. | | | | used but it is currently considered |
| If you are scratched or bitten by a cat, | | | | unreliable. Treatment for cat scratch |
| wash the area with soap and running | | | | fever are often Zithromax or Biaxin. |
| water right away. This can help. | | | | Both treatments have been shown to |
| It is estimated that approximately 40% | | | | shorten the length of the illness. |