Cat scratch disease, a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the lymph nodes, usually appears after the man scratched, licked, or bitten by a cat - more than 90% of the patients had direct contact with cats.

Bartonella henselae, the bacteria that causes the disease is found in all regions of the world. Most cases of infection occurs in the autumn and winter, and the majority of patients - children, probably because they are more active and play with the cats and the likelihood that their bite or scratch above.

Fleas spread the bacteria in cats, there is no evidence that fleas can infect humans. The bacteria live in the saliva of an infected cat, but the animal is not sick; cat can be a carrier of bacteria for months.

Experts believe that almost half of all cats in a given period of his life are carriers of Bartonella henselae; most carriers are found in cats in the age of one year.

Cat scratch disease is not transmitted from person to person. After one episode of the disease in humans produces immunity Immunity - types and characteristics in children in adults   bacteria, pathogens.

Symptoms

A few days after being scratched or bitten by a human cat, the skin appears a little swelling, which can be mistaken for the trace of an insect bite. Swelling occurs at the spot where the bacteria entered the body; As a rule, it is quite painful.

Usually within a few weeks after that one or more of the lymph nodes located near the site of the bite or scratch, inflamed and become painful. For example, if the cat scratched her hand and appeared swollen, inflamed lymph nodes in the elbow and / or in the armpit.

The size of the inflamed lymph nodes can be up to three centimeters; the skin on them often becomes hot and reddish, and lymph nodes Lymph nodes - what keeps our immune system   sometimes pus accumulates.

Most children inflammation of the lymph nodes is the main symptom of the disease; As a rule, cat-scratch disease occurs in a mild form. Its other symptoms may include: fever (usually less than 38, 3 ° C), fatigue, lack of appetite, headache, rash, sore throat and a general feeling of malaise.

Rare atypical cases. In such cases, the infection spreads to the liver, spleen, bone, joints; Sometimes patients experience persistent fever without other symptoms. In addition, some patients with cat-scratch disease develop eye infection and inflammation of the brain or seizures, although this rarely happens. All of these complications of cat scratch disease usually quite rapidly.

Prevention

To prevent contamination of cat-scratch disease do not necessarily get rid of the pet. The disease is relatively rare, and usually does not represent a particular danger and prevent it quite easily.

Explain to the children that they should not play with unfamiliar cats and cat from his home to play more cautiously, not to provoke it. All family members should always wash their hands after they play with the cat or just stroked it.

If the baby cat scratched, wash affected skin area with soap and water.

Treatment

As a rule, cat-scratch disease can be diagnosed by visual inspection; with appropriate signs, as well as information about that person scratched or bitten by a cat, the diagnosis remains little doubt. In some cases, however, to confirm the diagnosis blood test Blood tests: a mirror of health .

Normally, cat scratch disease goes untreated. In rare cases, the lymph nodes become so large and painful, the doctor may recommend draining them. Sometimes antibiotics are used for treating a disease Antibiotics - whether they will help you in the foreseeable future? .

Borreliosis, or Lyme disease - a bacterial infection, which is transmitted to man infected ticks. The saliva of ticks is contained anesthetic agent, so their bites are generally imperceptible. Often ticks go unnoticed during all that time, as they feed on the blood of the host. The longer a tick is a carrier of borreliosis, sucks blood, the higher the risk that he contracted the disease host. Lyme disease affects the skin, joints, heart and nervous system.

Currently there is no vaccine against borreliosis. In 2002, the US was represented by a vaccine against the disease, but shortly after it was removed from production due to the large number of side effects. The most effective means to prevent the infection of Lyme disease are the following rules to be followed when you spend time in nature:

• Wear tightly woven clothing with long sleeves;
• Refuel pants into socks (so the tick will be harder to get on your skin - it is small enough to wade between the fibers of the fabric;
• Use special tools, insect repellent;
• After a walk, hike or picnic carefully inspect your clothes and body, as well as children and pets. If you find a tick on yourself, who have not yet had time to cling to the skin, burn it or crush something solid.

If a tick has bitten you, remove it with tweezers. Do not use oil or cologne to remove the tick.

Chronic Lyme disease

Chronic Lyme disease - a syndrome that occurs in some people who previously were ill borreliosis. Symptoms of chronic borreliosis similar to the symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic fatigue - if life is not a pleasant experience . This form of borreliosis is not well understood.

Lyme disease can be divided into three main stages, each of which are characterized by their symptoms.

The first stage of borreliosis

The first symptoms of borreliosis appear in three to thirty days after infection. The most common symptom of early stage borreliosis is a reddish swelling that appears on the site of the bite. Furthermore, there is extensive skin rash that typically covers all the area of ​​skin with a diameter of 2 cm to 30 cm, and most people continues to increase for a few days or weeks. Approximately one third of patients with Lyme disease rash may be the only symptom.

Other symptoms of the first stage of borreliosis:

• Fatigue;
• Muscle aches;
• Joint pain;
• Headache;
• Fever or chills;
• Stiff neck muscles.

The second stage of borreliosis

The symptoms of the second stage of borreliosis appear in a few weeks or even months after the infection occurred. However, this stage of borreliosis occurs only in people who have not been treated with antibiotics Antibiotics - whether they will help you in the foreseeable future?   at an early stage of disease.

In the absence of timely treatment of patients with symptoms similar to flu symptoms, such as muscle pain and weakness. Some people have several episodes of inflammatory arthritis, which lasts about a week. However, even without the treatment of these symptoms eventually tested.

Approximately 15% of patients not treated appropriately, develop neurological symptoms:

• Numbness and pain in the limbs;
• Temporary paralysis of the facial muscles - usually struck by only one half of the face;
• Memory impairment;
• Impaired concentration;
• Changes in behavior.

In rare cases, patients in the second stage borreliosis develops meningitis Meningitis - an inflammation of the meninges . Its symptoms are:

• Strong headache;
• Stiff muscles;
• Increased sensitivity to light.
• If you experience any of these symptoms should immediately seek medical attention.

The third stage of borreliosis

In rare cases, patients who were not treated Lyme disease after a few months or even years after infection symptoms of the third stage of the disease. As is the case with the second stage borreliosis, third stage symptoms affecting the joints, and nervous system:

• Chronic pain and inflammation of joints Inflammation of the joints - how to relieve the pain? ;
• Tingling sensations in the limbs;
• Lethargy;
• Memory impairment;
• Trouble concentrating;
• Depression;
• Skin rash, which gradually leads to a thinning of the skin (atrophy) - this is the most typical for older women.

Treatment

At all stages of the treatment of borreliosis used antibiotics. In most cases, treatment is continued for two to four weeks, depending on the stage of the disease. In some cases assigned to receive intravenous antibiotics.

Because antibiotics are used for the treatment of borreliosis, make the skin more sensitive to sunlight during treatment should limit exposure to the sun and use sunscreen, regardless of the weather.