Owning a family or personal pet is a common joy for many people in the United States. Among the most common pets that people choose to adopt are cats. Cats require less maintenance than other types of common pets and can live indoors or outdoors. Certain breeds of cats also offer benefits such as maintaining pest and rodent control in the home.
How can I get cat scratch disease?
While cats are sources of pleasure for many, they can also pose certain threats to you, your family, or anyone else who may come in contact with them. Cats can be temperamental and often even unintentionally scratch or bite people. When this happens, the person attacked is at risk of developing what is known as cat scratch disease (also known to some as cat scratch fever).
Only 40% of cats can ever carry Bartonella henselae, the bacterium that causes cat scratch disease. Those who have this type of bacteria in their systems carry it in their saliva. When infected cats scratch or bite a human, they are likely to pass it on to the injured victim. While cats themselves do not show signs of Bartonella infection, affected humans can experience many undesirable and painful symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
Usually, the first sign of cat scratch disease is a bump or blister on the skin, similar to what can develop as a result of an insect bite. Over time, about a couple of weeks, the person’s lymph nodes will become swollen and tender. Other common symptoms include fatigue, headache, pain, and fever. People may also experience a sore throat, loss of appetite, or weight loss.
People who are most likely to develop cat scratch fever and experience the most severe symptoms include those who have weakened or impaired immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or receiving chemotherapy for cancer treatment. In these victims, cat scratch disease can be fatal if left untreated.
How can I prevent cat scratch disease?
If one is looking to prevent the development of this disease, he or she should always thoroughly clean any open wound sustained from a cat bite or scratch. An antibacterial ointment should be applied to the wounded area and then covered with a sterile bandage. If symptoms begin to develop, the affected person should seek medical attention.