The first case report of serologically confirmed cat scratch disease of a boy in Serbia

Abstract

Introduction: A typical cat scratch disease is characterized by isolated lymphadenopathy with fever without other signs or symptoms of infection. It is caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae. Since very little has been published about this issue, the aim of this paper is to present the first case of the serologically confirmed infection of a boy with one form of a typical cat scratch disease. Presentation of the patient: After having been scratched by a cat, erythematous papulove-sicles occurred with the initial central incrustation, as well as the increased lymph nodes on the head and in the neck. After the indirect immunofluores-cence test in the fifth week of disease, a titer of antibodies was confirmed for IgM class and IgG class ≥1:512 to Bartonella henselae antigens. The treatment was started with azithromycin syrup in the dose of 250 mg once a day, during a ten-day period. After the therapy has finished, a clinical remission of the disease has been registered. Conclusion: Establishing a serological diagnosis of this infection is important for a differential diagnostics of lymphadenopathies, and it is also important for the prevention of invasive and expensive diagnostic procedures. We are witnessing changes of the epidemiological pattern in the occurrence and the clinical manifestation of the cat scratch disease, which is why this disease should be considered on everyday basis, especially in infectology practice.