What Is Bartonella?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
4. Cat Scratch Disease
As the name suggests, cat scratch disease is a disease that is sometimes transmitted from an infected cat. The Bartonella henselae bacterium is responsible, which is transmitted when an infected cat bites or scratches, breaking the skin. It is also sometimes caught by a bite from an infected tick or a flea, but it cannot be spread from person to person.
It is in the southern states of the United States that cat scratch fever is most prevalent. Most of those diagnosed with it are girls, whereas boys are more likely to be hospitalized. It tends to affect children from the ages of 5 to 9 years old.
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