Cat Scratch Disease Symptoms, Treatments & More
Article Sources
- 1. Klotz, Stephen A., et al. 'Cat-Scratch Disease.' American Family Physician, 15 Jan. 2011, www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0115/p152.html.
- 2. 'Cat Scratch Disease (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth.' Edited by Raluca Papadopol, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Dec. 2014, kidshealth.org/en/parents/cat-scratch.html.
- 3. 'Cat Scratch Disease Fact Sheet. Minnesota Dept. of Health, www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/bartonella/csd.html.
- 4. 'Cat-Scratch Disease.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Jan. 2020, www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/cat-scratch.html.
- 5. 'Cat Scratch Disease.' Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/cat-scratch-disease.
- 6. 'Cat Scratch Disease.' Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/27/cat-scratch-disease.
- 7. 'For Veterinarians.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Jan. 2020, www.cdc.gov/bartonella/veterinarians/index.html.
5. Diagnosing Cat Scratch Disease
To make an accurate diagnosis, a physician reviews the person's health history and asks if they have sustained a recent cat bite or scratch. They also perform a physical examination.5‘Cat Scratch Disease.’ Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/cat-scratch-disease.
The doctor may conduct blood tests (PCR blood tests) to verify that cat scratch disease is responsible for the symptoms. In rare cases, a lymph node biopsy may be necessary. A physician may consider this step If the lymph node swelling doesn't resolve on its own.1Klotz, Stephen A., et al. ‘Cat-Scratch Disease.’ American Family Physician, 15 Jan. 2011, www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0115/p152.html.
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