A 1-year-old child was scratched by a cat and had a repeated high fever and was diagnosed with cat scratch disease. Be careful when in contact with cats and dogs

China Science and Technology News Network, November 29 (Xu Mingyang) According to media reports, recently, in Changsha, Hunan, 1-year-old Duoduo was scratched by a kitten that his mother brought home from outside a month ago. At that time, his parents did not pay attention. In the past half month, Duoduo had repeated fevers and could not find the cause. After consultation and examination at the hospital, it was confirmed that Duoduo had "cat scratch disease."

Cat scratch disease, also known as cat scratch syndrome, is a self-limiting disease caused by infection with Bartonella henselae after being scratched or bitten by cats and dogs, or bitten by blood-sucking arthropods such as fleas and lice. Adolescents and children are prone to this disease.

The incubation period of cat scratch disease is generally 3 to 10 days, and the incubation period of some patients can reach several months or even a year. The main symptoms after the disease are fever, body temperature of 38 to 41 degrees Celsius, accompanied by headaches, etc.; inflammation and pain of the skin at the scratch or bite site, and possible suppuration; local lymph node enlargement, which is common in the head and neck, armpits, groin, etc., is painful, and a few patients will suppurate and may rupture to form sinuses; it may also cause eye lesions mainly with conjunctivitis, choroiditis, and uveitis, but it is relatively rare; in addition, some patients may have uncommon symptoms such as encephalitis, meningitis, organ damage, arthritis, maculopapular nodules, bone marrow lysis damage and thrombocytopenic purpura.

Because it is a self-limiting disease, cat scratch disease patients usually recover on their own in about 2 to 3 months, and the vast majority of patients have a good prognosis.

Families with pets should pay attention to pet hygiene. When animals are in heat in spring, try to keep a distance from them and do not stimulate them to avoid being scratched or bitten.