Symptoms of cat-scratch disease. A red bump, sore, or blister may develop where a cat has bitten or scratched you. This ...EspañolVisitTheSymptomCheckerReadMoreIntermittentFastingReadMoreShinglesReadMorePre-ExposureProphylaxis(PrEP)ConditionCat-ScratchDiseaseLastUpdatedOctober2020|Thisarticlewascreatedbyfamilydoctor.orgeditorialstaffandreviewedbyDaronGersch,MD,FAAFPSharePrintTableofContents1.Overview2.Symptoms3.Causes4.Diagnosis5.Prevention6.Treatment7.EverydayLife8.Questions9.ResourcesWhatiscat-scratchdisease?Cat-scratchdiseaseisaninfectionyoucangetafteracatscratches,bites,orlicksyou.Itiscausedbybacteriaincatsaliva.Catslikelygetthebacteriafromfleas.Cat-scratchdiseaseisalsocalledcat-scratchfever.Itisnotasevereillnessinhealthypeople.Butitcanbeaproblemforyoungchildrenorpeoplewithweakimmunesystems.Theseincludepeoplewithcancer,diabetes,oracquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome(AIDS).Symptomsofcat-scratchdiseaseAredbump,sore,orblistermaydevelopwhereacathasbittenorscratchedyou.Thiscouldhappen3to10daysafterthebiteorscratch.Thesoreorblistermaytakealongtimetoheal.Youmayexperiencealow-gradefever(under102°F),headache,fatigue,orpoorappetite.Aninfectionofthelymphnodescanalsodevelop.Thishappensmostoftenintheglandsclosesttothescratchorbite.Ifthescratchisonyourarm,theglandsinyourarmpitornearyourelbowmaybecometenderandswollen.Callyourfamilydoctorifyounoticeanyofthefollowingproblems:Acatscratchorbitethatisnothealing.Aredareaaroundacatscratchorbitethatcontinuestogetbiggerformorethan2daysaftertheinjury.Feverthatlastsforseveraldaysafteracatscratchorbite.Painfulandswollenlymphnodesformorethan2or3weeks.Boneorjointpain,abdominalpain(withoutfever,vomiting,ordiarrhea),orexcessivetirednessformorethan2or3weeks.Whatcausescat-scratchdisease?Cat-scratchdiseaseiscausedbybacteriathatcatscarryintheirsaliva.Theylikelygetthebacteriafromfleas.Theycanspreadittotheirpawsorfurwhentheylickthemselves.Youcangetcat-scratchdiseasefromacatbiting,scratching,orlickingyou.Youcanalsogetthebacteriainyoureyesifyourubthemaft