How Much Do You Know About Cat Scratch Disease?
Cats make wonderful pets. That's why there are millions of pet cats in the United States. Three households in 10 own at least one cat. Sometimes, however, cats can cause an illness called cat scratch disease. Find out more about this illness by taking this true-false quiz.
Cat scratch disease (CSD) is primarily found in children.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Up to 90 percent of those affected are under 21 years old. About 22,000 cases of CSD are reported each year in the United States.
Cat scratch disease is an allergic reaction to touching a cat.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
CSD is caused by a bacterium, Bartonella henselae. These bacteria enter the body through a scratch by an infected cat. B. henselae is found more often in cats (most often in kittens). The disease is not passed from one person to another.
A cat that is infected with the CSD bacteria is lethargic and weak.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
A cat that is infected with the CSD bacteria does not appear ill. Nearly half of all cats may have the bacteria at some point in their lives. Cats infected with the bacteria eventually rid themselves of the infection. You do not need to put an infected cat to sleep.
Fever is the predominant symptom of cat scratch disease.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Swollen lymph nodes near the site of the scratch are the main symptom. A low-grade fever may be present in about a third of the cases of CSD. Other possible symptoms include fatigue, headache, and loss of appetite. In severe cases, seizures may occur. Typically, a blister or bump appears at the site of the scratch three to10 days after the scratch. Lymph nodes usually begin to swell and become tender within two weeks after the cat scratch.
Cat scratch disease symptoms last about a week.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Lymph nodes may remain swollen and painful for up to six months.
A skin test is the best way to diagnose cat scratch disease.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
A health care provider may order a skin test to help in diagnosing this disease, but the test is not very reliable. Your child's health care provider will use several other criteria in diagnosing the illness: Has your child played with a cat recently? Does your child have swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the neck and under the arms? Have other causes for the swollen lymph nodes been ruled out? A blood test may be ordered to check for signs of infection with the CSD bacteria, but the test may not be as reliable as the other historical or physical clues.
Antibiotics are the main treatment for cat scratch disease.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Antibiotics are only useful in severe cases of CSD. In all other cases, the infection will go away on its own, without treatment. Talk with your child's health care provider for suggestions on how to ease the symptoms of CSD. Once your child has recovered from CSD, he or she will most likely have developed a life-long immunity to it.
One way to avoid cat scratch disease if your family wants a cat is to get an adult cat instead of a kitten.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Adult cats are much less likely to harbor the cat scratch disease bacteria than are kittens. Also choose a cat that has been well cared for rather than adopt a stray cat, which may be more likely to bite or scratch while playing with you and your family.
Your score was: