Cat scratch disease

[Darkchocolateandcoffee]

Posting here for traffic as I have no experience of cats.

I was quite deeply scratched by a friend's kitten a fortnight ago and now wonder if I have cat scratch disease.

After it happened I washed the cut out and swabbed with alcohol. The cut has been fine since and I just have a fading scar.

But over the past three or four days I have been exhausted, really tired, and my glands in my neck have been up (although they're down today) and a bit in my groin.

Covid test negative and I haven't come into contact with anyone who's tested positive so I'm not particularly worried about that.

Could it be cat scratch disease and if so do I need to see a doctor? The cat is one of two indoor kittens if that makes a difference.

I doubt it but then I’m not a doctor

Context your doctor if you’re worried at all

I wouldn't say so no, as the wound site is not infected.

That's reassuring, thank you. Under non scratch times I would just assume I was a bit under the weather, but the cat thing made me wonder.

Wouldn't it be best to make an appointment with your GP, no one here can diagnose you

(I do have a phone call booked with the doc tomorrow to discuss, but am wondering if I'm wasting her time).

I'd say you're wasting the doctor's time.

A scratch from a kitten (unlikely to outside on in contact with any wild animals/have any illnesses), which isn't infected. Doesn't need a doctor

Feeling run down and not feeling a bit better.

The doctor will tell you that you should rest and keep your fluids up.

Literally nothing else they will do.

Apologies, that should say 'now' feeling a bit better.

I honestly think you've caught a bug, a few days of rest and wary nights and you'll feel better.

I'd go to the doctor if you still felt run down in a week or so. But keep in mind that they can't do blood tests, so not sure what they'd do

How big was the scratch, and did it get infected and go red and angry with pus coming out etc?

I had to step in to a cat fight once (my cat and the neighbours cat... who both then turned on me ) I ended up on two types for AB for 10 days and needed a tetanus but I was scratched quite badly on both legs and arms.

Thanks all. The scratch was an inch long and quite deep on the fleshy part of my palm. It didn't go pus-y - just seemed to heal like a normal scratch.

@Crunchymum did you have symptoms or did the docs just put you on those drugs? Poor you, that sounds horrendous

@Darkchocolateandcoffee, how are you doing today?

This was years ago but I was pretty badly torn up so I decided to see the GP. The treatment was all precautionary (my surgery didn't have any tetanus jabs in at the time so I had to pay at a travel clinic to have it done!).

Loved my little cat.... but yeah don't ever get in the middle of a cat fight

They weren't actually fighting, but squaring up to each other and hissing. So I grabbed my girl and they both went for me.

Have a new kitten now as our girl was PTS last year so I'm constantly being bitten and scratched nowadays anyway

I felt better today but shattered again form about 5pm. So I'm going to keep the call with the doctor and see what she says.

If I hadn't been scratched I'd just assume this was a bug. Which I suppose it probably is, one way or another.

My DSis had cat-scratch disease, and her wound ended up going black and hollow. I've never seen anything else like it. So I'm hoping you've just got some non-specific virus.

My ds had cat scratch disease - one of the symptoms that actually made me believe him (he was a terrible hypochondriac - still is!) is that his neck swelled alarmingly. So I’d say it’s possible you have it. From what I understood, kittens under a year old have this, but not everyone they scratch reacts to it.

Ds was in hospital for 2 weeks, partly because the docs couldn’t figure out for a few days what the problem was. He was only 7 at the time so I doubt you’ll be admitted op if indeed this is what you have.

I hope you feel better soon :).

I have cat scratch disease (Bartonella)

I was diagnosed following a biopsy on my lymph nodes. I had lumps in my armpit and neck.

I was referred to infectious diseases who gave me a formal diagnosis.

My main symptom was extreme fatigue.

I am not currently in an acute phase. When this occurs again I can be given a cocktail of antibiotics to fight it. Until then I am relying on my immune system to control it.

My case is more complex as I have allergies to various antibiotics.

When I am run down I am more prone to entering an acute phase. My covid vaccine did prompt a reaction in my lymph nodes but my Consultant did warn me about that.

I still love my Cat as she is very cute. But I remind her daily that she infected me.

Definitely keep the appointment. It’s unlikely you have it but it can be serious. The timing of onset of symptoms fits with the incubation period for cat scratch fever.

Just came across this thread! I had a tiny scratch on my leg in the middle of July from my cat, cleaned it and didn’t think anything more of it. I woke up early august and my left eye was blurry and it didn’t go away. So I went to the opticians who sent me to the local eye hospital. A follow up appointment last week confirmed that it is a rare side effect of cat scratch disease and now I’m on a 6 week course of steroids, two types of antibiotics (one of them makes your wee orange!) and an anti sickness pill to counteract the side effects of the other antibiotic. I’ve had an mri scan, a chest x ray and a pint of blood taken for various tests. Honestly it’s the randomest thing ever. I feel physically fine, still have a slightly blurry eye and one tiny swollen lymph node behind me ear!