Zoonoses of Cat Scratch Disease
Newsletter 'Health and Science' - August 9, 2024
What is it?
A small wound caused by a cat's scratch is usually minor and not serious. However, a cat's claws carry microbes that can cause an infection. Therefore, you must always treat a cat scratch properly. An example of this is cat scratch disease, which can have serious consequences for weakened victims (such as the elderly or people with a weakened immune system). A cat can carry this bacterium without being sick itself. Be extra careful with feral or free-roaming cats. Cats with fleas also increase the risk of infection, because fleas can transmit diseases to cats. These can then infect humans.
Please note: cat scratch disease has nothing to do with toxoplasmosis, also known as feline distemper. You contract toxoplasmosis through the feces of infected cats, for example by eating unwashed lettuce.
What do you detect?
Some cats are infected with the bacterium Bartonella henselae. This is a bacterium that can cause cat scratch disease in people with weakened immune systems. The symptoms are
- A red bump that develops at the scratch site
- This may fester and become infected
- This almost always heals on its own
In severe cases
- Do you have a fever
- Do you feel sick
Recommendation
Ensure safety and assess the victim's condition
- Wash your hands and put on disposable gloves
Seek specialized help if
- The scratch was caused by a stray, feral cat
- The victim becomes ill and has a fever a few days after the scratch
- The victim exhibits symptoms other than a skin lesion, for example
- Swelling of a lymph node
- Headache
- Seizures
- The victim is (presumably) insufficiently protected against tetanus
- The victim was not vaccinated
- The booster vaccination was too long ago
- There is doubt.
Provide further first aid
- If the scratch is bleeding, first stop the bleeding by pressing on the wound
- Rinse the scratch thoroughly with water. Do you not have water available? Then disinfect the wound
- Dab the wound dry
- Cover the scratch with a sterile dressing
- Remove your disposable gloves and wash or disinfect your hands after providing first aid
Do you develop a fever a few days after the scratch and do you have swelling at the scratch site? Then consult a doctor
How can you prevent a cat scratch?
- Teach your children how to interact with cats
- Do not disturb a cat while it is eating
- Do not suddenly wake a cat when it is sleeping
- Learn to recognize a cat's normal behavior. Is it no longer fully relaxed? Then stop petting or playing with it
- Do not let young kittens play with your hands, fingers, or feet, but give them cat toys
- Leave strange, loose cats alone. Cats scratch because they are startled or anxious
- Treat the cat if it has fleas. After all, fleas can infect the cat with the bacterium that causes cat scratch disease
- A playful, young cat often becomes calmer after being sterilized
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