Cat-scratch fever is an infection caused by a kind of bacteria called Bartonella henselae (it's also sometimes called Bartonella henselae infection) ...MenuAcneBedbugsColdSoresEczemaFungalInfectionsHairLossHealthyBeautyLicePsoriasisPsoriaticArthritisPoisonIvyRosaceaShinglesSkinCancerMoreRelatedTopicsSkinDiscolorationsChronicSkinConditionsAcuteSkinProblemsSkinInfectionsNewsMedicalReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesQuestions&AnswersFindaDermatologistSkinProblemsandTreatmentsReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyBrunildaNazario, MDonJuly07,2020InthisArticleWhatIsCat-ScratchFever?Cat-ScratchFeverCausesCat-ScratchFeverSymptomsCat-ScratchFeverDiagnosisCat-ScratchFeverTreatmentCat-ScratchFeverPreventionWhatIsCat-ScratchFever?Cat-scratchfeverisaninfectioncausedbyakindofbacteriacalledBartonellahenselae(it's alsosometimescalledBartonellahenselaeinfection).Youcangetitifacatthathasthistypeofbacterialicksanopenwoundonyourskinorbitesorscratchesyou.Cat-scratchfever,alsocalledCat-scratchdisease(CSD), happensmostofteninchildrenandteens. Cat-ScratchFeverCausesAbout40%ofcatsandkittenscarryBartonellahenselaeintheirmouthsorundertheirclaws.Theygetthisbyscratchingorbitingatinfectedfleas.Theycanalsopickitupbyfightingwithothercatsthathaveit.Mostcatsthatareinfecteddon’tshowanysymptoms.Butinseriouscases,theycouldhavetroublebreathingorcomedownwithinfectionsintheirmouth,eyes,orurinarytract.IfacatthathasBartonellahenselaebitesorscratchesyouhardenoughtobreaktheskin,thenthebacteriacangetintoyourbody.Youcanalsogetinfectedifacatlicksasore,wound,orscabthatyouhave.Cat-ScratchFeverSymptomsNoteveryonewho’sbeenlickedorscratchedbyacatneedstogotothedoctor.Ifyou’vebeeninfectedwithCSD,you’llhavesymptoms.Thesedon’thappenrightaway.Mostofthetime,theyappeardaysafteryou’vebeenaroundacat.Thefirstsignisoftenaredbump,sore,orblisteratthesiteofthescratchorbite.Thismaynothurt,butitoftenhasacrustandcouldcontainpus.Withinthenext2weeks--andevenafterthebumphashealed--youcouldhave:Fever(couldbe“lowgrade,”meaninglessthan102F)HeadacheFatigu