Cat Scratch Disease

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Cat Scratch Disease

• Student A
• Science Period 1
• ELA Period 7

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Introduction

• Cat Scratch Disease is caused by a bacterium.
• Bartonella henselae is the name of the bacteria
  that causes the disease.
• The disease reproduces by binary fission because
  it is bacterial.
• This disease is most common in children.

Bartonella henselae
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Transmission

• Cat scratch disease is transmitted from an
  infected cat to a human through a bit or a
  scratch.
• This disease can not be spread from human to
  human.
• Cats get the bacteria from the bite of a flea,
  although the cat does not get sick.
• The bacteria lives in the saliva of the cat.

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Symptoms

• A blister or small bump appears a couple of days
  after being bitten or scratched.
• After a couple of weeks lymph nodes near the
  blister will begin swelling and become red and
  sore.
• Other symptoms may include fever, tiredness, loss
  of appetite, headache, rash, sore throat.
• In some cases liver, spleen, bone, joint and lung
  infections can occur.

Blisters that appear.
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Prevention
Flea that carries the bacteria.

• Teach young children to stay away from stray or
  unknown cats.
• Children need to play nicely and not roughly with
  pets to avoid being bitten or scratched.
• Keep your pets free of fleas to decrease the
  chance your pet will become infected with the
  bacteria.
• Wash your hands after playing with cats.
• If you do get bitten or scratched, wash the area
  well with soap and water.

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Treatment

• Cat Scratch disease usually goes away on its own
  without any medical treatment.
• Fluid is sometimes removed from swollen lymph
  nodes.
• Doctors can give antibiotics to treat the
  disease.
• Warm compresses can be placed on swollen lymph
  nodes to reduce soreness. Tylenol or Advil can
  also be given to reduce pain and fever.

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Interesting facts

• Cat Scratch Disease is found all over the world.
• It is more likely to occur in the fall and
  winter.
• In the United States, around 22,000 cases are
  diagnosed each year.

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Sources

• Cat Scratch Disease. Kids Health. Online
  Available http//kidshealth.org/parent/infections/
  bacterial_viral/cat_scratch.html, January 20,2009.