Catching Cat Scratch Fever from your Kitty
Kitties can do far more than rub against your leg and purr to the beat of the band. They can also carry the bacteria that cause cat scratch fever. While the bacteria don’t hurt them personally, it can certainly cause you to become ill. Cat scratch disease is caused by the bacteria that are transported through their saliva which of course can easily be transmitted to humans. The one thing that researchers cannot definitively prove is where or how the cat contracts the bacteria.
How Cat Scratch Fever is Contracted
You can develop this disease via several methods: a scratch, a bite or any other means where their saliva can enter your blood stream. Cats love to lick themselves, so if they lick their paws and then take a swipe at you, the bacteria will be on their claws. When they bite, their saliva can drip into your wound. If you even pet your cat where they have licked themselves and the touch any mucosal part like the nose or eyes, you can also contract the bacteria causing cat scratch fever.
For the most part, you do not have to worry about becoming severely ill with cat scratch fever. However if you have an illness or disease in which your immune system is compromised like cancer or AIDS, you could have a problem. It is important in this type of situation that you immediately see a doctor as a precautionary measure.
Symptoms and Signs
If you received a bite or scratch, the area may take up to ten days to become sore or appear infected. Sometimes, this sore may take weeks to heal. The lymph glands near the area of the bite or scratch may become swollen and infected. This painful swelling could last several weeks. In addition, you could develop a fever which persists for several days as well as red around the wound which grows bigger as the days go by.
Worst cases include marked fatigue, pain in the joints and bones and even stomach pain without any diarrhea or vomiting. Any of the symptoms above are just cause to immediately seek medical treatment. If you do recall a bite or scratch, a doctor can definitely diagnose your cat scratch fever. However, a blood test may be necessary if you contracted it through other means.
Treatment for Cat Scratch Fever
For minor cases of cat scratch disease, the infection clears up on its own. However, with the infected, swollen lymph glands that persist for more than a month, antibiotics may be prescribed to help kill the bacteria that cause the disease. On occasion, your doctor may use a needle to drain the swollen glands to provide you relief. It is important to seek proper treatment so that the bacterial infection that causes the cat scratch disease does not spread to your internal organs.
The best prevention is to avoid being bitten or scratched by your cat. In addition, always wash your hands thoroughly after touching a cat and be careful not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth until after you have clean hands. In addition, on the off chance fleas help pass along the bacteria, keep your feline flea free.
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