Cat scratch fever in children

question My daughter has been diagnosed with cat scratch fever and no one really knows much about it. Can you tell me what you know about this infection? Should I get rid of the cat? Can my daughter get it again?

Cat scratch fever, also known as cat scratch disease, is an uncommon infection that occurs mostly in children. It follows a scratch or bite from a cat, usually a kitten, that shows no sign of illness. There is good evidence that the disease is caused by a bacterial agent or agents. In humans, there is usually evidence of infection at the site of injury and swelling of lymph nodes. Fever is present in less than half the cases.

Bacteria in an excised lymph node is strong evidence of the disease, as is a positive skin test to the organisms. However the skin test is not licensed and is not readily available.

Most people recover without treatment. The issue of lasting immunity is not clear but recurrences are rare. In instances where several persons have been scratched by an infected cat, less than 10 percent became ill. It should not be necessary to get rid of the cat.