Cat Scratch Disease Fact Sheet (2024)

FAQs

How likely to get an infection from a cat scratch? ›

They found that the average annual incidence of CSD was approximately 4.5 cases per 100,000 population, or approximately 0.005%. They found that the highest incidence was in southern states and that children between the ages of 5 and 9 years are at increased risk for CSD.

The illness in people is not usually serious. Most cases resolve on their own without treatment in 2 to 3 months.

What causes cat scratch disease? Cat scratch disease is caused by a bacterium carried in the cat saliva. The bacteria are passed from an infected cat to a human after the cat licks an open wound or bites or scratches human skin hard enough to break the surface of the skin.

Incubation period

Usually 3 to 10 days for the first symptoms (the lump at the site of the scratch or bite), and another 1 to 7 weeks until the lymph gland swelling occurs.

The first sign of a cat scratch infection is a blister or a small bump several days after the scratch or bite. It may look like a bug bite. Within a couple of weeks of a scratch or bite, one or more lymph nodes close to this area will swell and become tender.

You should be concerned about a cat scratch and visit your healthcare provider if you have: A scratch that's not healing or is surrounded by a red area that gets bigger for more than 2 days. A fever that lasts for several days. Painful and swollen lymph nodes.

If you get scratched or bitten by a cat, wash the area with soap and water. Look for signs of infection over the next 2 weeks. Call your doctor if you have symptoms. In most cases, you can manage your symptoms at home with pain relievers or warm compresses.

Risks associated with cat scratches

These wounds can sometimes sting, bleed, and even become infected. Both feral and domesticated cats may also transmit certain viruses and bacteria when they scratch human skin. Some of the possible health complications include: cat-scratch fever (also called cat-scratch disease)

Progression to encephalitis usually occurs early in the course of the disease, with the predominant complaint being an unrelenting headache followed by rapid decline in mental status and coma. Seizure is the most common presenting symptom of cat scratch encephalopathy.

How is CSD treated? Antibiotics may be used to speed recovery in cases of acute or severe illness but most people do not require treatment. Recovery occurs spontaneously within 2 to 4 months.

Can you be immune to cat-scratch disease? ›

Most cases of CSD are caused by Bartonella henselae. Bartonella species are small pleomorphic, fastidious, facultative, gram-negative, and intracellular bacilli. Infection appears to confer lifelong immunity, as reports of recurrences of clinical cat scratch disease are rare.

Because cat bites can become infected quickly, and those infections can spread rapidly, it's imperative to seek medical attention immediately following a cat bite or a cat scratch.

Immediate Care for a Cat Scratch

Wash the wound(s) gently under running water — avoid scrubbing. Gently clean the wound with hand soap. Avoid cleaning with strong disinfectants or other chemicals, as they can sting and cause additional pain around the wound.

In 90 to 95% of children, cat scratch disease will resolve spontaneously with symptomatic control, including analgesics, antipyretics, and warm compresses. In patients with disseminated disease, recovery may take months to a year with morbidities depending on the system involved.

If you do find that your cat has an injury, it's important to remain calm and treat the wound as soon as possible, since even minor wounds can become infected with bacteria and viruses. Any wound that's left untreated can cause more severe health issues.

Control bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound using an absorbent dressing or bandage. You should see a physician as soon as possible. Most cat bite wounds are small punctures that drive pathogenic bacteria deep into the skin. Left untreated, a serious infection can develop within 24 to 48 hours.

Living with cat-scratch disease

If you get scratched or bitten by a cat, wash the area with soap and water. Look for signs of infection over the next 2 weeks. Call your doctor if you have symptoms. In most cases, you can manage your symptoms at home with pain relievers or warm compresses.

If the bite or scratch is bleeding, apply pressure to it with a clean bandage or towel to stop the bleeding. Wash the wound with soap and water under pressure from a faucet for at least 5 minutes. Do not scrub as this may bruise the tissue. Dry the wound and cover it with a sterile dressing.