Medication
Method 1 of 5: Evaluating the Cat Scratch
- Identify the cat. It is important to have some information about the cat that has scratched you. ...
- Seek medical treatment for scratches from an unknown cat. Unknown cats may not have vaccines, so you may need to have preventative treatment for bacterial infections, tetanus, or rabies.
- Assess the wound. ...
- Decide on an appropriate treatment. ...
See more
Just keep the following points in mind:
- Keep the cat indoors.
- Avoid rough play with cats and situations in which scratches are likely. ...
- Promptly wash any cat scratches or bites with soap and water.
- Avoid contact with fleas.
- Treat the cat with a flea control product recommended by your veterinarian.
- It’s not necessary to test or treat a healthy cat for Bartonella.
What treatment is best for a cat scratch?
Other antibiotics sometimes used to treat cat scratch fever infections include:
- ciprofloxacin ( Cipro)
- rifampin (Rifadin)
- tetracycline (Sumycin)
- trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)
How do you cure Cat Scratch Fever?
What Natural Remedies Can I Use To Help Fight Cat Scratch Fever?
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
- Immune-enhancing herbs such as Olive Leaf Extract
- Colloidal Silver
- Probiotics
- Goldenseal
- Echinacea
What should I do if I get Cat Scratch Fever?
How to treat Cat Scratch Fever with home remedies?
See more
What is the most effective way to treat cat scratch fever?
They concluded that the following 4 antibiotics were the most effective for patients with severe CSD:Rifampin - Efficacy of 87%Ciprofloxacin - Efficacy of 84%Gentamicin intramuscularly - Efficacy of 73%Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) - Efficacy of 58%
How long does it take for cat scratch fever to go away?
How is cat scratch disease treated? Cat scratch disease is rarely serious and usually goes away on its own in 2 to 4 months without treatment.
What is the fastest way to heal a cat scratch?
First, you want to try to flush out as much bacteria as possible and then irrigate the wound with water. Next, wash the wound with mild soap and water. Slow the bleeding with a clean cloth and apply over-the-counter antibiotic cream if you have it. Then, wrap the wound in a sterile bandage.
What do I do if I get cat scratch fever?
In most people, cat-scratch disease clears up without treatment. You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help relieve pain and discomfort. Ibuprofen (two brands: Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (one brand: Aleve) can help. Applying heat compresses to the affected area may also help.
What happens if Cat scratch fever goes untreated?
But in a small number of cases, cat-scratch disease can cause the brain to swell or infect the heart. Infections like those can be fatal if they aren't properly treated. "Most of the people who get seriously sick from cat-scratch are immunocompromised. The classic example is patients with HIV," says Dr.
Does Bartonella go away on its own?
henselae), is an infectious disease with symptoms that can vary from mild to severe. Although in most patients the disease resolves spontaneously within 2-4 months without treatment, in people with severe cases and/or patients with a suppressed immune system, such as HIV/AIDS, antibiotic treatment is recommended.
Which is the best ointment for wounds?
Elastoplast Wound Healing Ointment can be used at any stage of the healing process on superficial open wounds and damaged skin. A moist healing environment has been clinically proven to aid and speed up the natural wound healing process.
What antibiotics treat cat scratch fever?
Most cases of cat-scratch disease are self-limited and do not require antibiotic therapy. If an antibiotic is chosen to treat cat-scratch disease, azithromycin (Zithromax) appears to be effective at reducing the duration of lymphadenopathy.
Can I put hydrogen peroxide on a cat scratch?
DO NOT use soaps, shampoos, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, herbal preparations, tea tree oil, or any other product to clean an open wound, unless specifically instructed to do so by your veterinarian. The wound may be bandaged to protect it from further contamination or to prevent your cat from licking it.
Do cat scratches need antibiotics?
If you are scratched or bitten by a cat or kitten, it is important to promptly wash the area with soap and water. Cat scratch disease can be treated by antibiotics.
How long after a cat scratch does infection set in?
About three to 14 days after the skin is broken, a mild infection can occur at the site of the scratch or bite. The infected area may appear swollen and red with round, raised lesions and can have pus. A person with CSD may also have a fever, headache, poor appetite, and exhaustion.
What is the best antibiotic for a cat bite?
Amoxicillin with clavulanate is the current recommendation for antibiotic treatment for cat bites. In penicillin-allergic patients or those with penicillin-resistant strains, other alternatives are necessary.
What is cat scratch disease?
Cat-scratch disease is an infection caused by Bartonella henselae, a fastidious gram-negative bacillus acquired from exposure to an infected kitten or cat. The most common manifestation of human disease is lymphadenitis. Atypical forms of infection include Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome, stellate ….
What is cat scratch?
Cat-scratch disease is an infection caused by Bartonella henselae, a fastidious gram-negative bacillus acquired from exposure to an infected kitten or cat. The most common manifestation of human disease is lymphadenitis. Atypical forms of infection include Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome, stellate ….
Do you need a diagnostic workup for a cat scratch fever?
Because cats typically don’t exhibit any cat scratch fever symptoms, your li’l buddy probably won’t need a diagnostic workup unless you are experiencing symptoms. Of course, it’s a good idea to call your veterinarian right away if your cat is showing any of the above signs.
Do cats nip and scratch?
If you’re a kitty parent, chances are you adore cat snuggles and playtime. And you probably know that even the friendliest felines occasionally nip and scratch. This isn’t typically too painful, but you should be aware that more than 40 percent of cats carry the bacterium that causes Bartonellosis or, as it’s commonly called, cat scratch fever.
What is the most serious problem with a cat scratching?
Other Risks Associated With Cat Scratches. According to Mahaney, one of the most serious risks associated with cat scratches is cat-scratch disease (CSD), also referred to as cat-scratch fever. “Cat-scratch disease is caused by a type of bacteria called Bartonella ,” Mahaney describes.
How to treat scratches on the skin?
When treating superficial scratches, it’s reasonable to wash the wound with soap and water, Levy says. “If the wound is bleeding, apply pressure with a clean, dry gauze pad,” he says. “If the bleeding doesn’t stop despite holding pressure, then medical attention should be sought.”
How many people get cat scratch every year?
An estimated 12,000 people are diagnosed with cat-scratch each year, and 500 are hospitalized, the CDC reports. According to Mahaney, if untreated, CSD can cause enlargement of the spleen, thickening of the heart valve, encephalitis (inflammation of the membranes that surrounding the brain), and other ailments.
How long does it take for a cat to scratch?
The symptoms of cat-scratch disease can manifest about three to 14 days after an infected cat bites or scratches a person hard enough to break the skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What to do if you haven't had a tetanus update?
If you haven’t had a tetanus update in more than 10 years, your doctor might also opt give you a booster shot, Levy says.
Can a cat scratch make you sick?
Getting scratched by a cat can be more than just painful—the wounds can bleed, sting, swell, become infected, and, in some cases, make us sick. Minor cat scratches usually can be treated at home, but certain wounds may require special care and attention.
Can you use antibiotic cream on a wound?
The risk for infection is higher for people with weakened or compromised immune systems, Levy says. An over-the-counter antibiotic cream can be applied and the wound covered with a dry, sterile dressing until it heals, Levy says.
What to do if a cat bites you?
If you are scratched or bitten by a cat or kitten, it is important to promptly wash the area with soap and water. Cat scratch disease can be treated by antibiotics.
Why does my cat scratch my skin?
Cat scratch disease is caused by a bacterium carried in the cat saliva. The bacteria are passed from an infected cat to a human after the cat licks an open wound or bites or scratches human skin hard enough to break the surface of the skin.
What does it mean when a cat scratches your arm?
Painful or swollen glands, especially under the arms (if scratched on the arm or hand), or in the groin (if scratched on the foot or leg) Flu-like symptoms including headache, decreased appetite, fatigue, joint pain, or fever. The symptoms of cat scratch disease may look like other conditions or medical problems.
How do cats get bacteria?
The bacteria are passed from an infected cat to a human after the cat licks an open wound or bites or scratches human skin hard enough to break the surface of the skin. Kittens younger than one year of age are more likely to scratch, increasing the likelihood of infection.
What are the risks of getting a cat scratched?
Who is at risk for cat scratch disease? Factors that can increase your risk for getting cat scratch disease include: Being around cats on a routine basis, especially kittens that are more playful and apt to accidentally scratch you. Not cleaning scratches or bites from a cat as soon as you get them.
What is the treatment for a swollen ear?
Treatment may include: Antibiotics (to treat the infection) Caring for the symptoms that result from the infection. In most cases, no antibiotics are needed, and the infection will clear on its own.
How to stop cats from scratching?
Pet or touch stray or feral cats. Cats. Control fleas. Cats scratching at fleas. Keep your cat’s nails trimmed. Apply a flea product (topical or oral medication) approved by your veterinarian once a month.
How to get rid of cat bites?
Wash cat bites and scratches right away with soap and running water. Wash your hands with soap and running water after playing with your cat, especially if you live with young children or people with weakened immune systems.
How do cats get B. henselae?
Cats can get infected with B. henselae from flea bites and flea dirt (droppings) getting into their wounds. By scratching and biting at the fleas, cats pick up the infected flea dirt under their nails and between their teeth. Cats can also become infected by fighting with other cats that are infected.
What happens if you scratch a cat?
Later, the person’s lymph nodes near the original scratch or bite can become swollen, tender, or painful. Wash cat bites and scratches well with soap and running water.
What is a cat scratch on the hand?
An enlarged lymph node in the armpit region of a person with cat-scratch disease, and partially healed wounds from a cat scratch on the hand. Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial infection spread by cats. The disease spreads when an infected cat licks a person’s open wound, or bites or scratches a person hard enough to break the surface ...
How do cats get infected?
Cats can also become infected by fighting with other cats that are infected. The germ spreads to people when infected cats bite or scratch a person hard enough to break their skin. The germ can also spread when infected cats lick at wounds or scabs that you may have.
How long does it take for a cat to get a bite?
About three to 14 days after the skin is broken, a mild infection can occur at the site of the scratch or bite. The infected area may appear swollen and red with round, raised lesions and can have pus.
