High fever, swollen lymph nodes due to cat scratch

Quang Ninh A 37-year-old male patient was bitten by a cat and had a painful swelling on his fingertip. A few days later, he had a fever and swollen lymph nodes, and was at risk of a life-threatening infection.

The patient said that more than a month ago, he caught a cat to eat and was bitten by the animal on his right third finger and armpit, but he did not go to the doctor. Recently, his fingertip was swollen and his armpit had painful lymph nodes, so he went to the hospital for a check-up. Doctors diagnosed the patient with cat scratch disease, which led to high fever and infection.

On June 20, Dr. Pham Cong Duc, Head of the Tropical Diseases Department at Bai Chay Hospital, said that if not treated promptly, the disease could become life-threatening. The doctor prescribed painkillers, antipyretics, and antibiotics according to the protocol and monitored the patient for sepsis.

Cat scratch disease is an infection caused by the gram-negative bacillus Bartonella henselae . They enter the human body through a cat scratch or bite, from there attacking the lymphatic system, causing local lymphadenitis.

The patient will have swelling, pain, and black scabs at the site where the cat has scratched, bitten, or licked. After a while, the scabs fall off but the wound does not heal and remains swollen and edematous. The lymph nodes near the bite area may swell, causing fever, loss of appetite, and headaches lasting from two to five months. If detected late, the disease can cause serious complications to internal organs, causing liver and kidney damage; neurological complications causing encephalitis, epilepsy; complications in the eyes causing blindness, even death.

Doctors recommend that when in contact with animals such as dogs and cats, be careful not to be scratched or bitten; limit close contact with pets when the skin is scratched. When a cat scratches, bites, or licks an open wound, wash the wound under strong running water for 5-10 minutes, use soap or antiseptic solution to wash and clean.

According to doctors, the rate of rabies in cats is relatively low, but families still need to monitor the cat's illness and death for about 15 days, and go to a medical facility for advice and tetanus or rabies vaccination. Families with dogs and cats need to proactively vaccinate their pets against rabies, especially families with young children.

Minh An

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