What should I do if I get scratched by a cat?
What should I do if I get scratched by a cat?
Wash cat bites and scratches well with soap and running water. Do not allow cats to lick your wounds. Contact your doctor if you develop any symptoms of cat-scratch disease or infection. CSD is caused by a bacterium called Bartonella henselae.
Can cat scratches cause joint pain?
If a cat scratch or bite becomes red or swollen and you develop flu-like symptoms, including headache, decreased appetite, fatigue, joint pain, or fever, contact your healthcare provider.
Can a cat scratch hurt you?
Cat scratch fever: What you should know. Cat scratch fever can happen when a person receives a bite, scratch, or lick from a cat that is infected with the bacteria Bartonella henselae. The infection does not usually cause severe complications, but it can lead to problems for people with a weak immune system.
Does cat scratch disease go away on its own?
Cat scratch disease is rarely serious and usually goes away on its own in 2 to 4 months without treatment. Once your child has had cat scratch disease, he or she is unlikely to get it again.
Do you need a tetanus shot after a cat scratch?
Tetanus. Tetanus is a serious infection caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani. It’s recommended that you have a tetanus booster after a cat bite if it’s been more than 5 years since you’ve had the vaccine.
Do I need a tetanus shot for a cat scratch?
Do I need antibiotics for cat scratch?
Most cases of cat-scratch disease are self-limited and do not require antibiotic treatment.
Can I have rabies from a cat scratch?
Cat scratches, even from a kitten, can carry “cat scratch disease,” a bacterial infection. Other animals can transmit rabies and tetanus. Bites that break the skin are even more likely to become infected.
Is it necessary to take injection if cat scratch?
Call your doctor if the bite or scratch broke or punctured the skin, even if the area is small. A child who is bitten by an animal may need antibiotics, a tetanus booster, or rarely, a series of rabies shots.
What antibiotic is used for cat scratch?
If an antibiotic is chosen to treat cat-scratch disease, azithromycin (Zithromax) appears to be effective at reducing the duration of lymphadenopathy.
Do you need anti rabies for cat scratch?
Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis (PEP) is compulsory if you are bitten by a dog, cat or other animal that is rabid or is suspected to be infected with rabies. PEP is required under following conditions: If the bite has broken the skin and the wound is bleeding.
Do I need to get anti rabies for cat scratch?
What does tetanus look like in a cat?
In cats, tetanus can take two forms: Localized tetanus is the more common form of tetanus that occurs in pets. Affected cats develop muscle rigidity (stiffness) in the limb or muscles closest to the wound. In addition to muscle rigidity, muscle tremors may also be seen.
Do I need a tetanus shot if I got bit by a cat?