Cat scratch disease

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Cat scratch disease

Antibodies

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Cat scratch disease

Alternative Names:

CSD; Cat scratch fever; Bartonellosis

Treatment:

Generally, cat scratch disease is not serious. Medical treatment is not usually needed. However, in severe cases, treatment with antibiotics can be helpful.

In AIDS patients and in other people who have suppressed immune systems, cat scratch disease is more serious, and treatment with antibiotics is recommended.

Expectations (prognosis):

In children with normal immune systems, full recovery without treatment is the norm. In immunocompromised people, treatment with antibiotics generally leads to recovery.

Complications:

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have enlarged lymph nodes and a history of exposure to a cat.

Review Date: 11/2/2005
Reviewed By: Kenneth Wener, M.D., Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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