Also called: CSD · Cat scratch fever
Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Cat Scratch Disease
Cat scratch disease (CSD) is an illness caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae. Almost half of all cats carry the infection at some point. The infection does not make cats sick. However, the scratch or bite of an infected cat can cause symptoms in people, including :
- Swollen lymph nodes, especially around the head, neck, and upper limbs
- Fever
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite
For people with weak immune systems, CSD may cause more serious problems. The best way to avoid CSD is to avoid rough play with cats that could lead to scratches or bites. If you do get a scratch or bite, wash it well with soap and water. If the bite or scratch gets infected or if you have symptoms of CSD, call your doctor.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
It sits within Infections.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Cat Scratch Disease
2 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research already completed
- Intra-nodal Injection of Gentamicin for the Treatment of Suppurated Cat Scratch Disease's LymphadenitisUniversity Hospital, Toulouse
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Learn More
- About BartonellaCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Cat scratch diseaseMedical Encyclopedia
- Cat Scratch Disease (For Parents)Nemours Foundation
- Cat-Scratch Disease (Cat-Scratch Fever)American Academy of Family Physicians
- CatsCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Cat-Scratch Disease. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Cat Scratch Disease, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.