What Causes Cat Scratch Disease? Symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease. We have prepared some information about which you are curious about in the content of our article.
What Causes Cat Scratch Disease? Symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease
It is caused by infection caused by the bacteria called Bartonella henselae. It occurs when cats carrying this bacteria bite, scratch, or lick an open wound. In the content of our article, you can find detailed answers to the questions symptoms of cat scratch disease and how to cure cat scratch disease for you, our valued friends. So What causes cat scratch disease?
Also known as cat scratch fever, this disease is common in children and teenagers because they have more contact with cats. Cats carry this bacteria in their saliva. According to research, it is thought that this bacteria is transmitted to cats from fleas. Cats under 12 months of age tend to scratch more. This increases the risk of infection in homes with small cats.
Cat scratch disease puts people at risk, especially those who constantly have cats around them. Individuals who are especially around kittens, who are more playful and can accidentally scratch, can easily catch this disease. Apart from this, people who do not immediately clean the area when a cat scratches or bites, people who allow themselves to lick open wounds, or people who have a cat with a flea epidemic around them constitute the risk group. You can find more detailed information about the causes of cat scratch disease by continuing our article.
How To Treat Cat Scratch Disease?
Causes Of Cat Scratch Disease
Approximately 45% of cats and kittens have bacteria called Bartonella henselae on their paws and mouth. This bacteria is transmitted to cats when fleas bite the cat. Cats can transmit bacteria to each other when they fight with each other. The majority of cats do not show any symptoms. However, in very severe cases, it may cause difficulty breathing and infection in the mouth, eyes or urinary tract. Bartonella henselae can be transmitted to humans by carrier cats scratching or biting violently enough to tear the skin layer, or by licking or rubbing an open wound.
Although there is cat scratch disease, there is no need to fear every cat bite or scratch as not all cats have this condition. If you show symptoms of cat scratch disease, it means that you have this infection. Symptoms of cat scratch disease do not appear immediately. It usually starts to appear after a few days. The first symptom that appears is red swelling, pain and swelling in the bite or scratch area. Even though it doesn’t hurt much, the swelling hardens and infection accumulates inside.
Recovery from this disease takes approximately 2 weeks. However, during this time, fever, headache, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite and swelling of the lymph nodes may occur. Swelling usually occurs in the nodes close to the area where the bite occurred. In very rare cases, cat scratch disease causes very serious symptoms. As a result, serious problems occur in bones, cartilage, eyes, brain, heart or other organs. Generally, the disease can be this problematic in children under 5 years of age or in individuals with weak immune systems. When you tell the specialist that you were scratched or bitten by a cat, he first examines the area at risk of infection. By looking at the symptoms, it can be determined whether you are infected or not. In some cases, blood tests may be required. When cat scratch disease is suspected to be serious, tissue samples may be taken from the lymph nodes.
Can Cat Scratch Disease Be Treated?
For individuals with good general health, treatment for cat scratch disease is not needed. These people should wait for this disorder to pass. However, painkillers are used to reduce pain and swelling. Applying a warm compress to the area where swelling occurs can also help relieve the area. In cases where the lymph nodes are very swollen and stretched, doctors remove the fluid accumulated inside. This creates significant relief for patients.
The most effective treatment method for cat scratch disease in patients with low immunity is the use of antibiotics. In cases where symptoms do not go away for 2 months, the specialist doctor may prescribe antibiotic treatment. In this way, the infection is prevented from spreading to other parts of the body, such as the bone or liver. In cases where the disease is severe, medication use may be required for several months.
Can Cat Scratch Disease Be Prevented?
Cat scratch disease can be prevented with a few small methods. First of all, you need to be careful when petting stray cats. The likelihood of Bartonella henselae being seen in stray cats is much higher due to fleas. Another method is not to overdo it by playing games with cats. When your play gets rough, cats may unintentionally scratch or bite you enough to make you sick. If you have cats that go outside, you can prevent your cats from getting fleas by getting them vaccinated regularly. This significantly reduces your chances of contracting cat scratch disease. When a cat bites or scratches you, washing and disinfecting that area without wasting time largely prevents your risk of contracting cat scratch disease.
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