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Felinosis symptoms. Cat scratch disease (felinosis): symptoms, treatment, how infection occurs. Symptoms of "cat scratch disease"

Felinosis is one of the infectious diseases whose source is cats. In this article we will look at the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Felinosis - cat scratch disease in adults and children: causes, causative agent, symptoms

Sometimes beloved pets can become a source of disease. You should know what diseases you can get from cats in order to prevent unpleasant consequences for yourself and your loved ones. By the way, not only pets can infect their owners, stray or street cats can also pose a danger if you come into contact with them.

One of the diseases transmitted from cats to humans is felinosis. The name comes from the Latin word felinus, which means feline. The disease has several names. One of the names is cat scratch disease, it's simple.

Actually, the very name “cat scratch disease” speaks about the nature of this disease.

Important: Felinosis can occur if an animal bites or scratches a person. The infection does not spread between people.

A cat bite can cause felinosis

There is an infection on the cat’s claws that penetrates the dermis and causes the development of an infectious process in the human body. The animal's saliva is also infected. It is especially dangerous when saliva gets on the mucous membrane of the eye.

The causative agent of the infection is a bacterium Bartonella henselae. Some scientists believe that this small gram-negative bacterium is part of the oral microflora of cats. This bacterium is also found in dogs, monkeys, and rodents. However, humans become infected precisely from cats.

Important: Studies have been conducted which have revealed that the majority of cats, including both indoor and outdoor cats, are infected Bartonella henselae.

It has been established that the carriers Bartonella henselae There are fleas among cats. It is during the season of the flea development cycle (autumn-summer period) that the greatest activity of the felinosis disease is recorded.

Cat scratch disease infection pattern

Symptoms of felinosis that should alert the suspected patient are:

  • Formation of nodular rash (papules) in places of bites and scratches
  • Inflammation of the lymph nodes

Cat scratch disease - benign lymphoreticulosis: how does it manifest, how to treat?

Lymphoreticulosis benign is another name for the disease. You can become infected at any age; after experiencing the disease, a strong immunity is developed.

Important: Studies have shown that 25% of cat owners have antibodies to the bacterium Bartonella henselae. This suggests that the disease passed unnoticed.

If a person has a strong immune system, the disease may go away on its own, and the symptoms will not be pronounced. Complications as a result of infection are observed in people with immunodeficiency.

Felinosis does not appear immediately. The incubation period averages 1-2 weeks. However, in some cases, the disease begins to manifest itself within 3 days after infection.

Cat scratch disease has three cycles:

  • Elementary
  • The height of the disease
  • Recovery period

Let's look at each cycle in turn.

For initial period The disease is characterized by the appearance of papules at the site of a scratch or bite. Papules can appear even when the scratch or bite is already healing. Papules in most cases do not itch or hurt, in other words, they do not cause discomfort to the patient.



Initial stage of felinosis

A couple of days after the initial period begins the height of the disease. The papules begin to fester, then open up, and crusts form in their place, which eventually disappear. There are no scars left after the papules dry. After another couple of weeks, inflammation of the lymph nodes begins, most often they are observed in the armpits, as well as on the neck. One lymph node may become inflamed. Sometimes the lymph nodes are quite enlarged and painful on palpation. During this period, a person's body temperature may rise. Felinosis is also dangerous because during its peak period intoxication of the body occurs, which can last up to 3 weeks.



Inflammation of the lymph nodes with felinosis

You can understand that a period of recovery has begun when the lymph nodes begin to return to normal, weakness and fever disappear.

Important: Recovery most often occurs spontaneously. However, in rare cases, felinosis is of an atypical form, in other words, it has a number of complications and is painful. In this case, you cannot do without the help of doctors.



Complications of cat scratch disease

Cat scratch disease - Bartonella: diagnosis, treatment

A preliminary diagnosis is made based on the combination of symptoms listed above. First, the doctor must rule out other diseases in which the lymph nodes become inflamed:

  • Infectious mononucleosis
  • tularemia
  • lymphomas

An accurate diagnosis is established after laboratory tests. There are several methods that help accurately determine the presence of infection.



Treatment of cat scratch disease

Diagnostic methods, which help to identify the causative agent of felinosis:

  • Histology of lymph nodes
  • Serological diagnosis
  • Skin allergy tests
  • PCR method

In most cases, the disease is practically asymptomatic, and recovery occurs on its own. However, if the doctor diagnosed you with felinosis and prescribed medication, you should not neglect it.

These help fight infection drugs:

  1. Anti-inflammatory (indomethacin, diclofenac)
  2. Antihistamines (Claritin, Zyrtec, Erius)
  3. Antibiotics (doxycycline, erythromycin, bactrim).

Important: Antibacterial therapy is appropriate for severe disease. Antibacterial therapy is also prescribed for HIV-infected people. If abscesses have formed in the area of ​​the lymph nodes, surgical intervention is necessary.



Diagnosis of felinosis

Disease, cat scratch syndrome: treatment with folk remedies

Important: Folk remedies can be used in the treatment of felinosis only if the disease is mild. Treatment of a disease with complications should be carried out by a highly qualified doctor.

Folk remedies help relieve inflammation, alleviate the general condition of the body, and heal wounds.

The juice of fresh plants has disinfecting and regenerating properties:

  • Celandine
  • Calendula flowers
  • Yarrow
  • Nettles

Please note that for a good effect it is necessary only fresh juice. If you can find the juice from these plants, good. Obtaining fresh plant juice is not easy for known reasons.

If there is no juice, you will have to look for other methods of treating cat scratch disease. First emergency aid you can provide for a bite or scratch:

  1. Rinse the wound with normal laundry soap.
  2. Wash the wound with alcohol or regular cologne, pour brilliant green.


First aid for a scratch

Affected areas can be wiped infusion of dried chamomile flowers which are sold in pharmacies.

At the same time, with felinosis, it is desirable to increase immunity. For this purpose, such a folk remedy as echinacea tincture.

As you can see, having fun with our little brothers can turn into a completely unpleasant situation. There is no specific prevention for this disease. The only thing that can be advised is not to touch unfamiliar street cats, and also to warn children against playing with them. If you are bitten or scratched by your pet, treat the wound with an antiseptic and monitor the condition of the body over the next month. If symptoms of felinosis appear, seek help at the hospital.

Video: Cat scratch disease - felinosis

Possible dangerous infections through cat scratches.

The cat is one of the most beloved pets. Many owners find them to be full-fledged and full-fledged members of the family. But in our time there are a lot of homeless animals that live on the street and can show aggression. Scratches or bites from such a cat, in some cases, pose a serious danger to humans. Aggression sometimes occurs in pets.

How dangerous are cat scratches for humans?

  • The marks left on the owner's body by cute cat claws are not so harmless
  • Their consequences can lead to a serious illness called cat scratch disease - "CSD"
  • A cat suffering from felinosis can “reward” him with this bacterial disease by biting, scratching or licking a person.
  • Curved claws of a pet violate the protective layer of the epidermis, which contributes to the spread of pathogenic bacteria around the affected area
  • As the disease progresses, painful enlargement of the lymph nodes occurs
Consequences of cat aggression

Video: The most dangerous scratches

Why do cat bites and scratches take a long time to heal?

  • Unlike other skin injuries, cat scratches penetrate deep into the skin, tearing several layers of skin at once.
  • Lacerated wounds heal more difficultly and are much more painful for a person than even ones.
  • A deep scratch forms a closed lesion in which bacteria and microbes brought in by the cat's dirty nails accumulate - this makes the wound difficult to access for treatment and treatment.
  • The damaged area must not only be overgrown with new tissue, but also cleaned of infection, dirt, and if pus forms, the body will also have to fight with it.

How to quickly heal bites and scratches from a cat, cat claws?

Modern pharmaceutical remedies for pet bites and scratches are available in the form of powders, ointments, and liquids. Some of them help faster, others slower. Healing largely depends on the characteristics of the skin and the human body as a whole.
One of the conditions for speedy healing is timely treatment of the resulting damage.
The simplest and most effective remedy is hydrogen peroxide.

  • It is enough to immediately, after receiving an injury, apply this remedy to the wound, and the process of neutralizing harmful bacteria and blood clotting will immediately begin.
  • In addition, peroxide at the cellular level heals the wound and quickly restores the epidermis.
  • Thanks to these properties, the damaged area heals very quickly. A few days after application, not a trace remains of the scratch.

Is it possible to become infected with rabies or HIV through a scratch from a cat?


  1. Rabies can only be transmitted from a sick animal. When the virus of this disease multiplies, the cat becomes aggressive, saliva flows in a stream from the mouth. It is this that contains the rabies virus. Through the claws of an animal it is impossible to get infected, the virus can only be spread by a bite or contaminated saliva coming into contact with a scratch.
  2. HIV infection through a cat scratch possible, but it is significantly small. This can only happen if:
  • The cat will scratch with its claws stained with the patient's fresh blood within 8 minutes of the blood containing the immunodeficiency virus coming into contact with the cat's claws. Since this is the period of time the virus lives outside the carrier
  • According to experts, feline HIV is not transmitted to humans in any form.

Scratched by a cat - irritation, inflammation and suppuration of the scratch: how to treat?



Possible complications

If the scratch is not treated promptly and correctly, the inflammatory process begins after 1.5-2 hours.

If visible symptoms of inflammation are detected, we take urgent measures:

  1. We disinfect the affected areas with chlorhexidine or miramistin
  2. Apply a gauze bandage with Levomekol
  3. 3-4 days after swelling and redness have decreased, we stop treatment with Levomekol. We begin to lubricate the wounds with Solcoseryl ointment, at least 5 times a day
  4. After another 7 days, we apply Contractubex or Mederma to the remaining scars. Rub 2-3 times a day until complete healing

Important: If there is severe inflammation, swelling, fever, or the appearance of pus, after a few days, consult a doctor.

How to treat cat bites and scratches?



We prevent possible dangerous consequences

Reducing the consequences of cat bites and scratches and preventing further inflammation and swelling is possible with proper and timely treatment of the damaged area.

  • First, we wash the scar with purified cool water and soapy water, preferably household soap.
  • Next, treat with a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide. We repeat the procedure several times.
  • Then lubricate the edges with any alcohol-containing product:
  1. Iodine
  2. Fukortsin
  3. Diamond green
  • Alcohol solutions should not get inside the abrasion, as this can lead to a burn.

Video: The cat scratched your hand - what to do?

Ointments for cat bites and scratches: list, instructions for use



List of the most effective ointments
  • Miramistin- has antiseptic properties. It is considered an ideal remedy for preventing inflammation and the formation of pus in scratches caused by a cat. Apply the drug directly to the damaged area or to a sterile bandage 1-2 times a day. Application per day should not exceed 100 g. The duration of therapy depends on the condition of the affected area.
  • Levomekol- has an antibacterial effect. The ointment contains an antibiotic that promotes rapid healing of scratches and enhances the regeneration of the epidermis. Used in the presence of suppuration or pathogenic microorganisms. Apply a thin layer to the abrasion, cover with a sterile bandage. Repeat the procedure one to three times a day.
  • Rescuer- the most famous and popular balm for treating any scratches.
    The drug, in addition to accelerating the process of scarring of the wound, is a good pain reliever. Apply directly to the damaged area at least 3 times a day. If you are not allergic to the product, you can use it as needed without restrictions.
  • Solcoseryl- an excellent product that quickly heals cat scratches. Helps to absorb oxygen by epidermal cells, initiates the metabolic process in the damaged area, activating its recovery. A particular advantage is the ability to increase collagen synthesis, which has a huge impact on the permanent scarring of deep scratches.
    Use the ointment only on a dried wound in the healing stage. Since it does not have an antimicrobial effect, it cannot be applied to undisinfected purulent inflammation. Apply a small amount to the treated wound and cover with a sterile bandage. It is enough to do the dressing once a day.
  • Actovegin- an effective drug for combating inflammatory processes of the skin. Perfectly treats even very large and deep scratches. Apply directly to the wound and cover with a sterile bandage. Repeat the procedure until complete healing once a day.

To avoid serious consequences after being scratched by a cat, follow preventive measures for pets:

  1. Visit your veterinarian regularly to monitor your health.
  2. Get all necessary vaccinations on time
  3. Check your pet for fleas
  4. Provide your cat with a claw point

If you scratched stray cat:

  1. Treat the wound according to the method suggested above
  2. Immediately go to the emergency room for anti-rabies therapy.

Video: Cat scratch disease

Cat scratch disease occurs when a cat and a person come into close contact. The infectious disease is now rare. The disease also has the following names: felinosis, viral benign lymphadenitis, Mollare granuloma. From the saliva of animals, the infection enters the human body. As a result, the lymph nodes become enlarged and long-term intoxication of the body occurs.

I am a lover of cats and cats, and these funny animals have surrounded me all my life. Now a mongrel miracle cat Tina lives in my apartment. A year ago I was offered a kitten, I took it and didn’t regret it at all. I love taking care of her. You can admire the beauty in the article with a photo of our domestic cat.

And for families with small children, animals are just a gift! They will help teach children to care and protect the weak. Despite all the positive aspects of keeping animals in the family, there are some points that you need to be aware of. You can get infectious diseases from pets.

The disease is not transmitted from person to person. The causative agent of cat scratch disease is Bartonella bacillus. After a flea bite, cats become infected with the flea. The bacterium is on the paws, in the blood, urine, and saliva of the animal for a long time.

Cats themselves do not get sick, but they transmit the infection to humans. Anyone can develop the disease, but children are most often affected. Sometimes the whole family gets sick. Reduced immunity and chronic diseases also contribute to the development of the disease. The likelihood of cat scratch disease increases many times over if there are kittens living in the house.

Symptoms of cat scratches

Let's look at how the disease manifests itself and its symptoms.

The animal left a scratch on the human skin, and bacteria spread from the wound through the lymphatic vessels and into the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes become painful and enlarged. The disease begins slowly, the latent period lasts from 3 to 20 days.

The scratch has already healed by this time, but a painful spot appears. Usually the spot does not itch, is small in size and has a red rim. After a few days, the spot turns into a vial with cloudy contents. The blister opens and a crust or small ulcer forms in its place. Redness appears around this area for several weeks.

Typically, such symptoms do not bother patients; people do not pay any attention, although the affected area does not heal for a long time. A person begins to worry 15-20 days after infection.

It is at this time that all the symptoms of the disease appear: the lymph node closest to the scratch site begins to enlarge. It can be the elbow, cervical, inguinal, axillary lymph node, it all depends on the location of the scratch. The skin under the node turns red, it becomes painful, sometimes reaching a size of up to 10 cm.

Depending on the location of the lymph node, the patient complains of pain in the throat, armpits or groin. Intoxication begins in the body - headaches, body and muscle aches, fever, feeling of weakness. All of the above symptoms persist for 1-2 weeks, then they disappear, but the lymph nodes still remain enlarged.

If the body has a strong immune system, the disease usually heals on its own, which takes 1 to 2 months. The body develops immunity to the Bartonella bacterium.

Sometimes the disease begins very quickly, the symptoms of intoxication increase, a temperature of 40 degrees appears, and the nodes suppurate. They can open spontaneously, forming a fistula that heals slowly. The illness and recovery are delayed.

Cat scratches can lead to serious complications, but such manifestations are very rare. Mostly children and elderly people with weakened immune systems get sick. The causative agent of the disease, along with saliva, enters the eye. Conjunctivitis begins to develop, and nodules up to 3 mm in size appear on the eye. Intoxication begins, fever, parotid and submandibular lymph nodes increase in size, and suppuration develops in them. The patient may lose vision.

An untreated illness still leads to recovery, which takes from a week to several months. Vision is also restored.

There are cases when cat scratches lead to damage to the central nervous system, which leads to a disorder of consciousness and high fever. In such cases, immediate hospitalization is required.

The disease often leads to a constant enlargement of the lymph nodes, and internal organs suffer: lungs, heart, liver, spleen. Sometimes cat scratches lead to painful conditions of the musculoskeletal system.

Treatment for cat scratches

In mild cases, recovery occurs independently; in moderate and severe cases, medical assistance is necessary to prevent complications.

You need to contact an infectious disease doctor; he will be able to make a correct diagnosis, since lymph nodes can become inflamed not only from cat scratches, but from other diseases.

Usually the doctor asks if the patient was bitten or scratched by a pet? Those who seek help are tested for the causative agent of the disease. It's best to do it a few weeks after your cat has scratched or bitten you. The doctor will select a treatment, but most often no treatment is required; the doctor will monitor the course of the disease. If suppuration of the nodes occurs, an incision must be made to remove the pus. Hospitalization is carried out only in severe cases.

It is believed that cat scratch disease is most often contracted during the winter and autumn. Even a domestic cat that never knows what the street is can become a source of infection. Experts believe that young animals are much more likely to be infected with the Bartonella bacterium.

To avoid contracting cat scratch disease, you must:

  1. Don't play with your cat in such a way that it won't let out its claws. You cannot grab a cat by the tail, touch it, or tease it. Children should not kiss cats; cats licking children is unacceptable! Do not allow strangers or stray cats to be picked up or played with.
  2. Wash your hands after contact with an animal.
  3. If an animal bites or scratches you, run the injured area under cold water. The blood may be infected, let it drain, then wash with warm water and soap. Treat a scratch or wound with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and disinfect with brilliant green or iodine.
  4. Remember the date the cat left the scratches so that the doctor can make the correct diagnosis.
  5. Treat the animal for fleas, use disinfectant shampoos, and inspect the cat's skin.
  6. Take your pet to the veterinarian more often.

A long-term non-healing purulent wound and an enlarged lymph node located nearby should alert you. It could be cat scratch disease, which means you need to see a doctor. Stay healthy, take care of your health!

A cat is not only a source of natural relief from bad mood and tenderness without the use of any pills or herbs. Despite their tameness, cats remain relatives of wild predators and are capable of transmitting felinosis - cat scratch disease, through scratching or biting, especially at a young age. This disease has a long course and is accompanied by an inflammatory process, and sometimes leads to suppuration of the lymph nodes close to the scratch site. If at the time of infection the human immune system is in a depressed state (drug exposure, disease), complications may arise from the spleen, brain, and liver. If the body functions normally, the disease passes unnoticed, without complications.

The causative agent of the disease

Felinosis can be caused by a rather unusual bacterium - Bartonella henselae. The pathogen is an intermediate form between a virus and a bacterium: in shape it is a formation similar to a bacterium with the presence of a flagellum; it can be destroyed with the help of antibiotics. However, like a virus, a pathogen develops and lives inside a cell, and is grown not on nutrient media, but directly on living cells.

Bartonella's relatives, Rickettsia, are the cause of many diseases, including typhus, a pathology that develops on the head of people with lice.

The name of the pathology – felinosis – is derived from the word “Felis”, which means “cat” in Latin. The name of the causative agent of the disease - Bartonella henselae - is given in honor of the microbiologist who discovered this pathogen and described its properties (Diana Hensel).

How and from whom can you get infected?

The vast majority of Bartonella exist in the bodies of wild and domestic cats. The spread of the pathogen between individuals occurs with the help of cat fleas, in the intestines of which the microorganism can remain for up to 9 days. These insects do not pose a danger to humans.

According to statistics, almost 50% of cats have the causative agent of this pathology in their blood, while the animals show no symptoms of the disease, even with a long-term course of the disease. There is an opinion that this bacterium is normal for the mouth of cats. The bacterium is released in saliva and urine, from where it penetrates the cats' paws.

Thus, you can become infected:

    at the moment of an animal bite;

    when human skin is damaged by a cat's claw;

    if animal saliva comes into contact with damaged skin or eyes;

    through food and water consumed by the cat, provided that the food came into contact with mucous membranes or injured skin;

    when pricked by a fishing hook, a plant thorn, or a splinter that has previously been exposed to the animal’s saliva.

In terms of contagiousness, the most dangerous are kittens that have not passed the age mark of one year. Adult cats are slightly less dangerous. But it is important to note that rodents, monkeys, and dogs can also serve as sources of infection. In some cases, a prick from a bird's feather or a hedgehog's needle is enough to become infected.

Usually affected:

  • skin of legs;

    less often - eyes.

Infection does not occur from person to person. It should also be noted that, having once suffered felinosis, the disease does not develop again. 5% of the population is immune to felinosis (about 25% of this number are owners of domestic cats).

Some statistics

Most often, infection in temperate climates occurs in September-March (about 2/3 of all cases). This can be explained by the fact that in the cold season, human contact with domestic cats is closer. In the tropics, seasonality of the disease is not observed.

Approximately 90% of cases are children and adolescents under 20 years of age. In terms of gender, males are more often affected by the disease. Family outbreaks of the disease are rare: usually only one child gets sick, even if all the children have played with the kitten.

Factors that increase the chances of a more severe course of felinosis

A severe, and in some cases even an atypical form of felinosis develops in people who have been in contact with Bartonella in the following cases:

    there is a congenital defect in the cellular immune system;

    against the background of recent surgery or serious illness;

    in cases where a person needs to take glucocorticoids (for the treatment of psoriasis, autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis);

    after treatment with cytostatic drugs (azathioprine, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide);

    in HIV-infected people;

    in patients with diabetes mellitus;

    in people who abuse alcohol.

In the case of HIV infection, felinosis can have a long and severe course, and in some cases it manifests itself so atypically that even doctors cannot suspect such a diagnosis.

Symptoms of pathology

The bite site or scratch heals slowly in the first 3-10 days, but does not cause concern on the part of the person: the wound may be a little raw or painful, as usual with skin injuries. This is the incubation period, during which time the pathogen overcomes the barriers of tissue integument and actively reproduces. This period can be extended up to 3 weeks, in which case by the time the first symptoms of felinosis appear, there is no longer any skin damage.

After some time, which is required for the microbe to penetrate and accumulate (on average 7-14 days, sometimes 3 days-3 weeks), a crust remains at the site of the scratch, or a skin rash appears. Outwardly, it looks like several nodules, the sizes of which vary from a millet grain to a pea. The tumors do not hurt or itch.

After 2-3 days, the stage of the height of the disease begins: the nodules begin to fester and open, after which crusts appear in their place, which may itch slightly (especially when the scratched child is a pronounced allergy sufferer). Within 1-3 weeks, the crusts dry out and fall off, after which the bite site becomes invisible: there is no darker area of ​​skin or scars. This outcome means that Bartonella has multiplied in sufficient quantities and overcomes local immunity in a certain area of ​​the skin, after which it penetrates the lymphatic channel.

After 10-14 days (sometimes longer) from the moment the nodules form, the bacterium is caught by regional lymph nodes, which act as a kind of filter and try not to let the pathogen pass further.

In the case of a scratch or bite below the elbow, only one or several groups of regional lymph nodes enlarge: cervical, axillary, elbow. The order of manifestation of lymphadenitis may appear in an ascending manner, but the axillary lymph nodes may first enlarge, while the ulnar lymph nodes remain normal. Also, enlargement of the lymph nodes will occur from the axillary fossa, in the case where the shoulder or forearm was damaged by teeth or claws.

If the scratch/bite is on the leg, inflammation of the lymph nodes will occur in the groin and femoral area. In the case of a scratch on the face, the first reaction may manifest itself in the submandibular, anterior or posterior auricular groups, followed by an enlargement of one or a group of cervical lymph nodes.

Signs that make it clear that the lymph nodes have been affected by felinosis:

    lymph nodes are dense;

    they begin to gradually increase and reach 5-10 cm in diameter;

    soreness when palpated;

    the skin over the lymph nodes becomes red and hot to the touch;

    lymph nodes are mobile and when displaced do not pull the skin along with them;

    in the case of an enlarged group of lymph nodes, when palpated, they are not welded together (they can be “rolled” independently of each other).

Enlarged lymph nodes are accompanied by a general deterioration of the condition. The following symptoms occur:

    increase in body temperature to 39ºС and above;

    weakness;

    malaise;

    headache;

    heartbeat;

    loss of appetite;

    sweating;

    bad dream.

Not everyone’s temperature can rise to high levels; there are cases when, with felinosis, there is no temperature reaction. The increase in temperature lasts from 1 week to a month, while other symptoms disappear within two weeks. Lymph nodes remain enlarged for up to 3 months. In 50% of cases they fester and can subsequently open on their own. In such cases, thick, yellow-green pus is released onto the surface, which, when taken for bacteriological culture, does not show signs of a bacterial infection (the fact is that Bartonella does not grow on nutrient media, as stated above).

During this period, a reddish rash may appear on the skin of the body or limbs, which occupies larger or smaller areas of the skin. The rash disappears within a few days and does not cause pain or itching.

During the period of lymph node enlargement, the following may also be observed:

    Pain and discomfort in the right hypochondrium - the liver becomes enlarged, which also acts as a filter against bacteria that have entered the circulatory system.

    A feeling of discomfort or “pins and needles” in the left hypochondrium: manifestations of an enlarged spleen, which can also be damaged with felinosis. Enlargement of the spleen and liver is clearly diagnosed during an ultrasound scan of the abdominal cavity, although this does not manifest itself symptomatically.

    Signs of heart damage are the development of arrhythmias and the appearance of pain in the heart.

    The lymph nodes, which are located remotely from the scratch/bite site, begin to enlarge.

The above-described symptoms of cat scratch disease develop in people with insufficiently active immunity, as a result of which pathogens penetrate into the blood. Also, in “immunocompromised” people (chronic alcoholism, HIV, congenital immunodeficiency, diabetes mellitus, consequences of taking drugs that suppress the immune system), felinosis can be completely apathetic. In such cases, the infection remains in the body until the end of life and causes a chronic course of the disease.

In most cases, the disease goes away 1-2 months after the first lymph node enlarges: the temperature stabilizes, the headache goes away, appetite and sleep are restored, the lymph nodes begin to gradually shrink and become like small “balls” that are not fused to each other or to the skin. Quite rarely, with moderately weak immunity, felinosis can last for 1-2 years, with periods of onset and subsidence of symptoms.

Atypical forms of the disease

This term is used for:

    Diseases that occur in response to a microbe entering not the skin, but other places (for example, the conjunctiva of the eyes).

    Bartonella organ damage is typical only for people with “compromised” immunity.

Atypical forms are not one of the complications of the disease, but a severe atypical form of infection.

Eye damage

When cat saliva gets on the conjunctiva of the eye, the following may occur:

    Conjunctivitis Parilo. In this case, only one eye is affected. It becomes swollen, red, and difficult to open. At the same time, there is no pain, just like any discharge. During an examination by an ophthalmologist, small ulcers and nodules on the conjunctiva are visualized.

Simultaneously with the development of eye damage, inflammation of the parotid lymph nodes occurs on the side on which the infection occurred. The anterior auricular node is always affected: it grows up to 5 cm and can fester, after which it opens and leaves behind a scar. The submandibular and cervical lymph nodes may also enlarge. At the same time, it is worth noting the deterioration of the general condition: sleep deteriorates, body temperature rises, palpitations and weakness appear.

    Neuroretinitis. Vision in one eye is affected. The state of health remains unchanged. Changes that are characteristic of felinosis are detected during examination by an ophthalmologist.

Damage to the nervous system

When Bartonella penetrates into the blood, two to three weeks after inflammation of the regional lymph nodes, symptoms of damage to the nervous system may appear. They consist of a decrease in sensitivity exclusively in the area of ​​the hands and feet, sometimes there is further progression, which manifests itself in the form of loss of motor function of one or more limbs, loss of coordination, and trembling.

Felinosis can also cause paralysis of the facial nerve, impaired consciousness, inappropriate behavior, and seizures.

Atypical forms of immunodeficiency

In people with significantly reduced functions of the immune system, felinosis occurs as peliosis hepatitis or bacillary angiomatosis.

Bacillary angiomatosis

This is the name of a pathology in which, in response to the presence of bacteria from the genus Bartonella in the body, blood vessels begin to grow (most often characteristic of people with HIV infection).

Here, after damage by a cat’s teeth or claws, an incubation period lasts for weeks or months, and the wound heals accordingly during this time. Cutaneous manifestations of pathology are characterized by the fact that they appear in any place, regardless of the location of the initial damage by the cat. Damage also occurs to the mucous membranes of the larynx, genitals, and oral cavity.

The disease begins with the appearance not of small red nodules on the surface of the skin, but of purple or red spots that do not protrude above it. Nodules appear over time, already against the background of the presence of spots. In this case, the nodules are large, up to 3 cm in diameter, painful, and covered with inflamed red skin. The number of formations can vary from several to hundreds. Around each nodule there is a “collar” consisting of thin, eroded (oozing and reddish) epidermis.

The disease is accompanied by malaise and fever, and weight loss is also noted. Pathology can also affect other organs: bone marrow, muscles, central nervous system, heart, spleen, liver.

The course of bacillary angiomatosis can occur in different ways: it can resolve on its own, or, in the presence of severe damage to internal organs, it can lead to death.

Peliosis hepatitis

In this case, cavities appear in the liver that fill with blood, as a result of which the liver tissue takes on the appearance of a sponge. Symptoms of liver damage due to felinosis:

    areas of hemorrhage appear on the skin, which are associated with damage to the blood coagulation system;

    bleeding gums increases;

    the skin becomes pale yellow;

    the abdomen is felt bloated, which indicates the accumulation of gases in the abdominal cavity;

    chills occur periodically;

    prolonged fever.

Complications

After Bartonella spreads through the blood to various internal organs, the following may develop:

    atypical pneumonia;

  • osteomyelitis;

    spleen abscess;

    myocarditis;

The bacterium can also cause the development of serious blood complications, which include a decrease in the quantitative composition of various blood cells:

    leukocytes (leukoclastic vasculitis);

    eosinophilic leukocytes (eosinophilia);

    red blood cells (hemolytic anemia);

    platelets (thrombocytopenic purpura).

Diagnostics

The diagnosis and subsequent treatment of felinosis is carried out by an infectious disease specialist. This specialist is able to distinguish wound suppuration from cat scratch disease only by appearance. If, after being scratched by a cat, there is swelling and suppuration of the injury site, most likely the wound is infected with common pathogenic microflora: staphylococci, streptococci, Proteus, and in some cases fungal flora.

Such suppuration occurs on the second day after traumatic contact with a cat; the site of injury becomes painful, red, and a light liquid begins to ooze, which is subsequently replaced by pus. With felinosis, the scratch heals, and only against the background of the crust does the formation of nodules begin at the site of the bite/scratch, which do not itch, do not hurt, and do not fester.

“Bloating” of the hand after a scratch or bite is most likely a manifestation of phlegmon (purulent melting of tissue), or even worse, an anaerobic infection such as gas gangrene. In such cases, immediate surgical care with hospitalization in a hospital is required.

If a person begins to complain of enlarged lymph nodes, consultation with an infectious disease specialist will be required. It is better that this is not a doctor from a clinical hospital, but a doctor from the emergency department of an infectious diseases hospital. Here there is a lower probability of infecting other patients, since such manifestations in the absence of nodules on the skin must be differentiated from infectious mononucleosis, lymphogranulomatosis, HIV infection, as well as from such dangerous diseases as tularemia and plague.

Having suspected felinosis, after studying the anamnesis (manifestation of nodules, contact with a cat), the doctor of the infectious diseases department can confirm the preliminary diagnosis with the help of studies. To do this, you need to collect material from nodules or tissue, or from a lymph node, or from an abscess, by puncturing the pathological element and collecting the contents for the following types of laboratory tests:

    PCR, or polymerase chain reaction method: this is how particles of Bartonella henselae can be recognized and detected. The analysis is performed in paid laboratories.

    Histological: under a microscope, characteristic changes in tissues, as well as bacteria, are visible.

Serological tests also help in terms of diagnosis - determining the presence of antibodies to the Bartonella bacterium. For these purposes, either RSC or ELISA reactions are used.

At 3-4 weeks of illness, you can perform a skin allergy test by injecting a solution containing Bartonella particles under the skin: in the vast majority of patients with felinosis (90%), localized swelling and redness will appear on the skin as a response. This study is not applicable to children.

A complete blood count can also help determine infection. Among the main indicators: accelerated ESR, increased number of eosinophils, which do not directly indicate pathology, but confirm the presence of infection. Using liver tests, you can find out whether liver dysfunction is present and at what stage it is. An abdominal ultrasound can reveal an enlarged spleen or liver, on the basis of which the patient’s regimen can be adjusted. Semi-bed rest is required when the spleen is enlarged, since with high activity it can be damaged.

Treatment of the disease

Felinosis is treated according to the following algorithm: medications for systemic use, compresses are prescribed, and in some cases it is necessary to resort to surgical treatment.

A typical pathology, uncomplicated by damage to the nervous system, spleen, liver, heart, can be treated at home. Other forms of the disease require hospitalization in the infectious diseases department.

Drug treatment

Prescribed:

    Anti-inflammatory and painkillers: mefenamic acid, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen.

    Antibiotics: Clarithromycin, Gentamicin, Ofloxacin, Tetracycline, Erythromycin, Doxycycline. They are used in the form of tablets, in case of eye damage - in the form of eye drops.

    Antihistamines: Erius, Zodak, L-cet, Cetrin.

    In case of severe disease, glucocorticoids can be used: Prednisolone, Dexamethasone.

Compresses

It is recommended to apply compresses to the area of ​​inflammation of the lymph nodes. To do this, take one part dimethyl sulfoxide to four parts water, moisten gauze with this mixture and apply it to the lymph node area, place polyethylene on top and then secure the compress with a bandage and insulate it with a warm cloth.

Physiotherapeutic methods

The area of ​​inflamed regional lymph nodes is affected by diathermy and UHF.

Surgery

If the affected lymph nodes are painful and tense, their contents are punctured for drainage. Thus, the pressure in the capsule of the node drops, and the pain process, accordingly, is stopped.

Cat scratch disease in children

Felinosis in children in most cases occurs in a typical form: the place where the cat damaged the skin disappears, and in its place nodules appear, which subsequently suppurate and open. After this stage, one or a group of neighboring lymph nodes increases in size. The disease lasts about a month and can go away on its own without treatment.

The development of an atypical form of pathology can be observed in HIV-infected children or children after organ transplantation or chemotherapy. In such cases, it is impossible to predict which organ or system will be affected. The symptoms of felinosis in children are no different from the symptoms presented above in adults.

Diagnostics for children is also standard; punctate PCR is the main method for determining the presence of pathology.

Treatment is carried out using the drug “Sumamed” (dose – 10 mg/kg per day). Starting from 8 years of age, Tetracycline or Doxycycline can be used for treatment. Drugs such as Ofloxacin or Ciprofloxacin are allowed from 16-18 years of age.

Disease prognosis

In most cases, the disease goes away on its own with the complete disappearance of all symptoms. With timely assistance, even severe forms of the disease can be treated. The prognosis of the disease is questionable when the nervous system is damaged, since Bartonella can cause irreversible changes in the brain.

Disease prevention

What to do if you are scratched by a cat:

    wash the scratch area with laundry soap and running water;

    treat the wound with 3% hydrogen peroxide;

    cauterize with brilliant green or alcohol.

Taking antibiotics is ineffective. It is also useless to treat cats (as potential sources of disease spread).

Alas, the marks left by cat claws on human skin are also not harmless. Their consequences even have a special name - “ cat scratch disease» ( BKC).

Cat scratch disease, or felinosis is an acute bacterial disease that humans contract from cats through bites, scratches and simply licking.

The cat's curved claws penetrate the skin, introducing pathogenic bacteria into the wound, which then spreads into the surrounding tissue. Cat saliva, when it gets on the skin or conjunctiva of the eyes, causes damage to them. Subsequently, inflammation of the lymph nodes occurs.

The causative agent of felinosis

Bartonella henselae (bartonella), which gets to the cat through flea bites and can live in the blood, saliva, urine, and on the cat’s paws. At the same time, the cat itself is not sick, but is a carrier of bacteria.

Even the most “homeless” pets cannot escape Bartonella infection. Probably every cat at some point becomes a carrier of bacteria. And the younger she is, the higher the likelihood of her infection.

Symptoms of felinosis:

swelling or swelling at the site of the scratch, suppuration, enlarged lymph nodes. Sometimes an allergic reaction, fever, and signs of toxicosis appear.

The severity of BCC directly depends on the immune system, so children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, for example, after an illness, are most susceptible to the disease. A person cannot infect a person.

Felinosis can occur in typical and atypical forms.

Typical form of felinosis

Develops gradually. At the site of an already healed scratch or bite, a small blister appears, then an ulcer or crust. General health is good. After some time (15-50 days), not far from the damage, the lymph nodes (usually one) of the axillary or groin area, elbow and popliteal fold, and neck enlarge. The lymph node becomes soft and painful, enlarged to 3-10 cm, sometimes it suppurates and opens on its own.


There may be an increase in temperature (38°-41°), signs of intoxication (weakness, headache, poor appetite, increased sweating, slight pain in the abdomen and muscles, etc.). The depressed state usually lasts two weeks, inflammation of the lymph nodes - 2-4 months. The disease heals itself in 3-6 months (with complications it lasts up to a year). After an illness, strong immunity develops.

Atypical form of felinosis

Fortunately, it is rare, usually seen in children and people with low immunity. Atypical signs appear after enlargement of the lymph nodes.

When the bacteria gets into the eye, conjunctivitis develops, nodules and ulcers form in the eye, the temperature rises, symptoms of general malaise appear, the submandibular and parotid lymph nodes enlarge, sometimes with suppuration and further scarring of the skin. With complications, temporary loss of vision in one eye is possible. After some time (from several weeks to several months), complete recovery occurs.

Very rarely, BCC causes damage to the central nervous system (encephalitis, meningitis, polyneuritis); in the most severe cases, encephalopathy develops (dystrophic change in brain tissue). In the atypical form, damage to internal organs - the spleen, liver, heart and lungs - is possible.

Diagnosis of BCC

It is difficult, since its symptoms are also characteristic of other diseases, and the fact of contact with a cat often does not even “pop up” when contacting the clinic. The diagnosis is made in the laboratory based on bacterial culture with identification of the pathogen. The analysis is informative only a few weeks after infection.

Treatment of BCC

The typical form is characterized by independent recovery. In case of severe disease, timely seeking medical help is important to avoid serious complications.

Treatment is prescribed individually depending on the symptoms of the disease. If necessary, pus from the lymph nodes is removed surgically - through an incision or puncture. The patient is not contagious to others, and if he is feeling relatively well, he does not need any restrictions. Hospitalization is necessary only for severe forms of the disease and the presence of immunodeficiency.

Prevention of BCC

If you receive scratches or bites, you should let the blood (possibly infected) drain a little, then wash the wound with running water and laundry soap and treat with hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine. If necessary, apply a gauze bandage. As soon as it happens, go straight to the doctor!

Protecting yourself from BCC means minimizing the risk of being bitten or scratched by a cat:

  • play with your pet until its claws come out. Communicate with kittens in clothing that covers your arms and legs.
  • do not approach the cat when it is in an excited state. Do not tease her, do not touch her while eating, etc.
  • Do not pet or pick up unfamiliar (especially stray!) cats.
  • and, as always, wash your hands after handling your cat.

Dear Parents! Children are the most vulnerable “risk group”. Please explain to your daughters and sons that they should not touch strangers or street cats. Of course, you want your child to grow up kind and sympathetic. But damn, it's really dangerous!!

P.S. Hey, we all love our pet too!