Illness with arañazo de gato: what is it, symptoms and treatment

The illness caused by a cat spider is an infection that can occur when a person is infected by a cat infected by the bacteria Bartonella henselae, which can proliferate and inflame the wall of blood vessels, generating in the injured region a type of red blister characteristic of the disease, which can be complicated by causing cellulitis, which is a type of skin infection, or adenitis .

Despite being a disease transmitted by cats, not all these animals are carriers of the bacteria. However, as it is not possible to know if the cat poses or does not have the bacteria, it is important that he be taken to periodic consultations with the vet so that he is carried out pruebas and is dewormed, thus preventing this and other diseases.

main symptoms

The symptoms of illness caused by arañazo de gato suelen appear a few days after the tear, siendo los principales:

• Red ampulla around the arañazo zone;
• Inflamed lymph nodes;
• Fever high, which can be from 38 to 40 ºC;
• Pain and stiffness in the injured area;
• Lack of appetite and weight loss with no apparent cause;
• Vision problems, such as blurred vision and burning in eyes;
• irritability

If you suspect this disease when the person presents inflammation of the ganglia after having been scratched by a cat. The illness can be diagnosed through a blood test that detects specific antibodies against the bacteria Bartonella henselae.

How is the treatment performed?

The treatment of the illness with arañazo de gato is carried out with antibiotics such as amoxicillin, ceftriaxone or clindamycin, according to the doctor’s instructions for the purpose of effectively eliminating the bacteria. Similarly, lymph nodes inflamed with fluid can be drained with needles to relieve pain.

In the most serious cases, when the fever remains and when the lymph node surrounding the spider’s region becomes inflamed, it may be necessary to perform a surgery to remove this lymph node and carry out a biopsy to detect the alterations present. After the surgery, it may be necessary to place a drain to eliminate any possible secretions that may leak out for a few days.

The main part of the people who suffer from the illness caused by a cat spider recover in a few weeks after the beginning of the treatment.

On the other hand, if more strict control is needed with people with HIV, you can present the illness with a cat spider in a more serious way due to the deficiency in the immune system. For this reason, it may be necessary that these patients remain hospitalized to treat the illness.