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What happens if a cat scratch gets infected?

What happens if a cat scratch gets infected?

The infected area may appear swollen and red with round, raised lesions and can have pus. A person with CSD may also have a fever, headache, poor appetite, and exhaustion. Later, the person’s lymph nodes near the original scratch or bite can become swollen, tender, or painful.

Can cats get sick from a cat scratch?

Although cats generally do not suffer from the infection, beyond possible fever, swollen glands, and some muscle aches, cat scratch fever can be passed to a human host when the infected cat scratches or bites a human.

What causes a person to get Cat scratch disease?

Cat-scratch disease is an infection you can get after a cat scratches, bites, or licks you. It is caused by bacteria in cat saliva. Cats likely get the bacteria from fleas. Cat-scratch disease is also called cat-scratch fever. It is not a severe illness in healthy people.

Can you get Cat Scratch Fever from a cat bite?

People can also contract cat scratch fever, also called cat scratch disease (CSD). This comes from cats infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria from flea bites, blood transfusions or fighting with other infected cats. A bite, scratch or even the saliva of an infected cat can pass it along.

How can you tell if a cat scratch is infected?

Dr. Ruddock notes too that you may see “signs of infection together with swollen nodes in the region of the scratch, such as in the neck, armpit or groin, joint pain, and flu-like symptoms.” These symptoms can be indicative of cat scratch disease.

Can a worm get into a cat scratch?

Dr. Ruddock says another concern is the possible transmission of parasites through a scratch. It’s possible for larvae from worms can get into a scratch if the cat’s nails have come into contact with infected feces.

How do you tell if Cat Scratch is infected?

Even cat scratches may get infected. If the injury is a puncture wound, in case of an infection you will notice pus and a foul odor. If the infection is not a puncture wound, it may spread in the nearby tissues and cause cellulitis.

How likely is a cat scratch to become infected?

You also want to check it regularly to look for signs of infection. If you follow all the procedures to clean and care for the wound and notice it is not getting better, it’s possible it has become infected. According to Dr. Ruddock, between 20 and 50% of cat scratches will become infected.

What are the signs of an infected cat scratch?

Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is an infectious disease that results from a scratch or bite of a cat. Symptoms typically include a non-painful bump or blister at the site of injury and painful and swollen lymph nodes.

What antibiotic is recommended for an infected cat scratch?

  • ciprofloxacin ( Cipro)
  • rifampin (Rifadin)
  • tetracycline (Sumycin)
  • Septra)