Cat Scratch Disease

meghan

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My 25 year old male cousin just had a scare with a lump under his armpit. His doctors said it could be anything from an infection to Hodgkins Disease. He was very relieved to find out it is Cat Scratch Disease. He has a female soon-to-be-spayed cat who just had a miscarriage. Has anyone here had experience with this? How is it caused and how can it be prevented?
 

donna

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Meghan,

Cat Scratch Disease or Cat Scratch Fever as it is commonly referred to, is a bacteria spread through contact with an infected cat as a result of a bite, scratch or contact with saliva on broken skin or conjunctiva (fluid) of the eye. It causes swelling of the lymph nodes 2 to 3 weeks after contact and could persist for months.

Symptoms can include:

Lymph node swelling and swelling at site of bite or scratch
Fever
Fatique
Malaise (feeling really lousy)
Headache

It can be treated with antibiotics such as Erythromyacin, Doxicyclin and a couple of others.

I hope this has been helpful and I hope your cousin is feeling better.
 
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meghan

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Thanks Donna!

The lump gave everyone a scare, and my cousin a new lease on life. He was so relieved to be treated with antibiotics instead of chemotherapy, like he expected.
 
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