Summary

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is an illness caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae. Almost half of all cats carry the infection at some point. The infection does not make cats sick. However, the scratch or bite of an infected cat can cause symptoms in people, including :

• Swollen lymph nodes, especially around the head, neck, and upper limbs
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Poor appetite

For people with weak immune systems, CSD may cause more serious problems. The best way to avoid CSD is to avoid rough play with cats that could lead to scratches or bites. If you do get a scratch or bite, wash it well with soap and water. If the bite or scratch gets infected or if you have symptoms of CSD, call your doctor.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Learn More

• About Bartonella (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Cat scratch disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Cat Scratch Disease (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Cat-Scratch Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Cats (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Cat-Scratch Disease (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Development and Diagnostic Potential of a Novel Bartonella henselae-Specific Immunoglobulin.
• Article: Bartonella henselae Infection and Lymphadenopathy in a Patient With T Cell...
• Article: A comparison of Bartonella henselae infection in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice.
• Cat Scratch Disease -- see more articles