In most cases, your pediatrician will not use this test. Laboratory tests are available to detect antibodies in the blood related to CSD, but many commercial tests are considered unreliable. The pediatrician will look for a small bump where the cat scratch has occurred and evaluate any swollen lymph nodes that may be present. Your pediatrician will ask whether your child has had exposure to cats and kittens. This swelling can have a number of causes, including CSD. When to Call Your Pediatrician?Ĭontact your pediatrician if your child develops swollen lymph nodes. If a cat scratches or bites your child, immediately wash the area with soap and water. The lymph node in front of the ear on the same side of the infected eye will be swollen. In this case, the eyelid lining, the white of the eye (conjunctiva), or both are red. Rarely, a child with CSD develops brain inflammation (encephalitis), inflammation of the retina of the eye, a bone infection, pneumonia, or tender purple-red bumps on the skin (erythema nodosum).Īn unusual complication called Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome occurs when the bacteria enters the body through the eyelid. These children have prolonged fever, which is called fever of unknown origin. Some children with normal immune systems develop infections in the liver and spleen. In a small number of cases, children with CSD-typically those who also have a weak immune system because of cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or an organ transplantation-may develop infections in other parts of the body. Children may also have a fever, headaches, tiredness, and a decreased appetite. The skin over the swollen lymph nodes is warm, reddened, hardened, and tender to the touch. This bump usually appears 1 to 2 weeks before the lymph nodes become swollen and can last for many weeks. In most cases, children have a small sore on the skin where the cat scratch or bite occurred. The affected lymph nodes may be in your child’s armpit, on his neck, or in the area of the groin. The most common sign of CSD is one or more swollen lymph nodes or glands, a condition called lymphadenopathy. It takes a week or more from the time a person is scratched for the first symptoms to appear, sometimes as long as a month and a half. The disease spreads from cat to cat by fleas, but cannot be transmitted from person to person. Most cases occur in people younger than 20 years.Ĭat-scratch disease is caused by an organism called Bartonella henselae, which is transmitted to humans by cats (usually kittens) that appear healthy, but are infected with this bacteria. A common bacterial infection called cat-scratch disease (CSD) can make your youngster sick for weeks or even months, all because, as the name suggests, a cat has bitten or scratched him. You may find it hard to believe that a small household pet like a cat can cause your child to become ill for a long period of time.
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