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Cat Scratch Disease Symptoms And Signs

Cat scratch disease is an illness that is cats can pass to humans through licking, biting, or scratching. One of the most common symptoms of this disease are swollen lymph nodes.

By: Naomi West
Category: Pets:Cats
Posted: Dec 02, 2008
Updated: Dec 02, 2008
Views: 264


Cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection that can cause swelling of the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are round organs of the immune system. This disease is caused by the bacterium known as bartonella henselae. A cat will usually be infected by the bacterium through fleas. The cat will then spread it to humans through licking, scratching, or biting.

After a few days of being scratched or licked or bitten by a cat a small bump or blister will form called an inoculation lesion. Most people will mistake this for a bug bite. They will usually appear on the hands, arms, head, or scalp. These lesions are usually not painful.

Within a couple of weeks the scratch or one of the lymph nodes close to the area where the lesion is will begin to swell and become tender to the touch. If the lesion is on the arm then the lymph nodes in the elbow or the armpit will begin to swell.

The swollen lymph nodes will begin to show more often in the underarm and also in the neck. However, if the lesion is on the leg it is more likely that the nodes located in the groin will swell. The skin around the swollen lymph nodes will turn red and become warm and may begin to drain pus after some time.

Swollen lymph nodes are the most common symptoms of <a href="http://www.painreliefforcats.com/cat-scratch-disease.htm ... scratch disease</a> - but some people may experience other more general symptoms along with this. One third of people infect with cat scratch disease will experience fatigue, fever, headache, loss of appetite, rash, and sore throat. There are also certain people who will experience atypical cases of the disease. In these rare cases they will experience infections in the bones, liver, lungs, spleen, and joints.

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