infectious diseases
Cat Scratch Disease
Symptoms and Signs of Cat Scratch Disease
Within 3 to 10 days after a bite or scratch, most patients with cat-scratch disease develop an erythematous, crusted, painless papule (rarely, a pustule) at the scratch site. Regional lymphadenopathy develops within 2 weeks. The nodes are initially firm and tender, later becoming fluctuant, and may drain with fistula formation. Fever, malaise, headache, and anorexia may accompany lymphadenopathy. Unusual manifestationsoccur in 11 to 12% of patients: Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome (conjunctivitis associated with palpable preauricular nodes) in 6% Neurologic manifestations (encephalopathy, seizures, neuroretinitis [causes acute unilateral vision loss], myelitis, paraplegia, cerebral arteritis) in 2% Hepatosplenic granulomatous disease in<1% is one of the most common causes of culture-negative Infective Endocarditis , usually in patients with predisposing valvular heart disease. In immunosuppressed patients, Lymphadenopathy subsides spontaneously within 2 to 5 months. Complete recovery is usual, except in severe neurologic or hepatosplenic disease, which may be fatal or have residual effects. 