Contents:
- Medical Video: SGT Rex - Mike Dowling w/ Judy Barr Topinka (2012.08.21)
- What is Cat Scratch Disease (CSD)?
- Symptoms of CSD infection
- How to prevent cat scratch disease?
Medical Video: SGT Rex - Mike Dowling w/ Judy Barr Topinka (2012.08.21)
Actually there is one risk of infection other than Toxoplasma which you may need to be more aware of if you keep a cat at home. One prevention that you can do is to routinely cut the nails of the Sweet and train them to not carelessly scratch. Because, you can get infected with Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) from the bite or scratch of your favorite cat. What are the symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease, and how do you deal with it?
What is Cat Scratch Disease (CSD)?
Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) or cat scratch fever is a bacterial infection caused by scratching cats infected with bacteria Bartonella henselae, one of the most common bacteria in the world. About 40 percent of cats and kittens are infected with these bacteria and are carried in their mouths or claws.
Usually, infected cats from scratching or biting infected lice. Fighting with infected cats can also cause transmission of this bacterium. Most cats don't show any symptoms after they are infected. However, in severe cases cats can experience difficulty breathing and infection in the mouth, eyes, or urinary tract.
You can also get this disease if saliva from an infected cat enters an open wound in your body, or touches the white part of your eye.
This case of infection is more risky for children under the age of 5 years or people who have a weak immune system.
Symptoms of CSD infection
Usually, the first symptom of a bacterial infection will appear 3 to 10 days after being bitten or scratched. In 1-7 weeks after scratching, the lymph nodes will swell.
The symptoms of CSD are:
- There is a lump that blisters in the place of bites or scratches that often contain pus
- Swollen lymph nodes near the site of the bite or scratch
- Easily tired
- Headache
- Mild fever
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Sore throat
In very rare cases, CSD causes serious problems that affect the bones, joints, eyes, brain, heart or other organs.
How to prevent cat scratch disease?
Cats infected with the bacteria Bartonella henselae generally do not show symptoms of pain. So it's difficult to find out if your cat is infected unless you see a doctor.
If you doubt whether your pet has been infected with bacteria or not, then check with your nearest veterinarian. However, cat bacterial infections tend to be short-lived so that generally do not need treatment.
You can take a number of precautions, including:
- Avoid playing too rough with any cat, including pet cats. Playing or treating cats roughly can increase the chance to get scratched or scratched.
- Keeping your cat clean and avoiding fleas can help cats avoid infection. If necessary, ask your veterinarian for the best care about how to prevent fleas and bacteria in cats.
- If you have open wounds, don't let the cat lick the wound.
- If you are bitten or scratched, wash immediately with antiseptic soap and water until clean. This is so that the attached bacteria can disappear. The same thing is done when a cat accidentally licks your wound.
- Avoid playing with cats if you feel unwell.
- Wash hands with soap every time you play, caress, or carry a cat.
- Make a special cat area in your home so that he is not free to roam inside the house.
- Adopt older cats if you want to keep a cat, but have a health problem or a weak immune system. Choose cats that are at least one year old because kittens tend to be infected with the bacteria Bartonella henselae.
