What is cat scratch disease?

Cat scratch disease is an infection caused by bacteria.

What is the cause?

You can get the disease from an infected cat that scratches, bites, or even licks you. Cats get the infection from fleas. Rarely, the disease is spread by a dog or other animal. It does not pass from person to person.

What are the symptoms?

Infected cats do not act sick, but you may have the following symptoms about a week after being scratched or bitten or after an infected cat licks an open wound:

• One or more bumps or a sore on the skin where you were bitten, scratched, or licked.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or near the bite
• Fever
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Poor appetite

One to 4 weeks later, the bacteria travel to lymph nodes near the scratch or bite, usually in the armpit, groin, or neck. Lymph nodes make blood cells to fight infection. The lymph nodes become large lumps that are usually painful and may get red.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you. He or she will ask if you have been around cats and been scratched, bitten, or licked. Usually this is all your provider needs to diagnose this disease.

If your provider is not sure of the diagnosis, you may have tests such as:

• A blood test
• Test of a sample of fluid taken from the lumps

How is it treated?

Often you will feel better in 1 to 2 weeks even without treatment. If your lymph nodes are very swollen and tender, or if the infection has spread to other parts of your body and become more serious, you may need antibiotics to kill the bacteria. In very severe cases you may need to be treated in the hospital. If you think you might have cat scratch disease, it is best to be checked by your healthcare provider.

The swollen lymph glands usually start to get smaller in 2 months, but they may not go back to their normal size for several months. Sometimes the lymph nodes get scarred from the infection and stay a little larger than normal.

After having cat scratch disease once, it’s very unlikely you will get it again.

People who have HIV, an organ transplant, or other conditions that weaken the immune system have a higher risk of complications from cat scratch disease. Complications can include joint pain, prolonged fever, and lung and eye problems.

How can I take care of myself?

Nonprescription pain medicines can help treat headache and fever.

Follow the full course of treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. Ask your provider:

• How and when you will hear your test results
• How long it will take to recover from this illness
• If there are activities you should avoid and when you can return to your normal activities
• How to take care of yourself at home
• What symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if you have them

Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup.

How can I help prevent cat scratch disease?

The best way to avoid cat scratch disease is to promptly clean any area of skin that has been scratched, bitten, or licked with lots of soap and water. While some scratches or bites may not be preventable, avoid playing roughly with a cat or kitten.

If you got the disease from your pet, ask your veterinarian about getting treatment for your cat.