Glossary

Cat's claw disease is caused by infection with Bartonella henselae. The pathogen is mainly caused by the contact or scratching or biting of the skin of domestic animals such as cats. Bartonella henselae is a slender, polymorphic coryneform bacillus, (0.3～1.0)μm×(0.6～3.0)μm in size, Gram-negative, oxidase-negative, is an aerobic bacillus with strict nutritional requirements , grow slowly in medium. Bartonella henselae is present in the oropharynx of cats, and fleas are the vector of cat populations. Humans are transferred to humans through cat scratches, bites or close contact between humans and cats, causing human infection.

Clinical Symptoms

Experts say that people usually develop cat's claw disease after being scratched by pets , the specific condition is that the lymph nodes become inflamed and swollen after being infected. The initial symptoms of the disease are blisters or small bumps on the arms, hands, head, and scalp within three to 10 days of being scratched. These symptoms are often misinterpreted as the result of a bug bite. In fact, this is a so-called inoculation wound, through which bacteria are often introduced into the body. About 70% of patients with the above symptoms have a record of being scratched by a cat. Within two weeks of being scratched by a cat's paw, the lymph nodes near the inoculation wound will be swollen and soft to the touch. These swollen lymph nodes are usually found in the armpit, neck, and collarbone. The swollen lymph nodes range in diameter from 1 to 5 centimeters and are accompanied by an area of redness and swelling that can persist for several months.

For most people who have been scratched by a cat, red and swollen lymph nodes indicate cat's claw disease, but about one-third of people who have been scratched by a cat will Common symptoms, such as fever above 38 degrees, fatigue, loss of appetite, headache, etc. About 14% of people who have been scratched by a cat also develop some atypical symptoms of cat's claw, such as ulcers at the inoculation wound and swollen lymph nodes around the ears. Other possible symptoms include osteitis, pneumonia, enlarged liver and spleen, and persistent high fever for no apparent reason. These symptoms usually last about two weeks after they appear. Cat's paw disease gets better slowly, but it can heal on its own.

Differential Diagnosis

Mainly need to be related to various etiologies such as Epstein-Barr virus infection, Mycobacterium infection, Staphylococcus infection, β-hemolytic streptococcus infection , venereal diseases (syphilis, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereal disease, etc.), toxoplasmosis, gray anthracnose, tularemia, rat bite fever, scrub typhus, sporotrichosis, sarcoidosis, brucellosis, malignant or Benign lymphoma and Kawasaki disease caused by lymphadenopathy or (and) suppuration can be differentiated. Eye damage with preauricular lymphadenopathy often indicates cat-scratch disease.

How to treat

The disease is mostly self-limiting and usually heals spontaneously within 2 to 4 months. Treatment is mainly symptomatic. When the lymph nodes are purulent, puncture and suction can be performed to relieve symptoms, and if necessary, repeat the procedure after 2 to 3 days. Drainage should not be cut. Surgical removal may be considered for lymphadenopathy that has not shrunk for more than 1 year. Although hensebartonella is sensitive or highly sensitive to many antibiotics and their derivatives, aminoglycosides, rifampicin, and ciprofloxacin in vitro, there is no indication for the application of antibiotics in general cases. For severe diseases such as high fever, concomitant encephalitis and immunodeficiency (HIV infection, etc.), it is advisable to use antibiotic combination therapy in a timely manner, and the clinical treatment is generally more than 2 weeks.

How to Prevent

Cat's Claw is caused by a bacteria in cats that can cause symptoms in people who have been scratched above symptoms. But cats with the bacteria themselves do not show the above symptoms. The most active seasons of this bacteria are summer and winter. There are also more cases of family members having the disease at the same time. Cat's claw disease is generally not transmitted from person to person, and is mainly contracted by scratching by a cat with the disease. Therefore, the preventive measures are mainly to avoid contact with unfamiliar or unfamiliar cats, and to educate children not to play with cats at will, especially not to play with neighbor cats and cats they see outside. If scratched, wash the scratched area thoroughly with soap and water. If you have a cat at home, in order to prevent your family from being scratched accidentally, you may wish to ask a veterinarian to trim the cat's paw nails.

Physician's point of view

Based on the above-mentioned experts and relevant scientific information, the disease cat's claw caused by cat scratches is actually a kind of Bacterial source, not caused by rabies virus at all. So there is no need for rabies vaccine. As long as we deal with it in time, pay attention to disinfection and symptomatic treatment, the harm is not at all, and some mild symptoms can even heal on their own. Pay attention to prevention, keep clean and hygienic, and create a beautiful life in which people and pets live in harmony.