Serious Symptoms Of Cat Scratch Disease

Cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection caused by the Bartonella henselae bacterium and is spread when an infected cat licks an individual's open wounds, or when the cat bites or scratches someone's hand enough to break the surface of their skin. Symptoms usually begin to appear around three to fourteen days after the skin has been broken with swelling and redness around the infected site being the most common symptom to first appear. Most felines will not exhibit any signs of cat scratch disease, but a high number of them are Bartonella henselae carriers.