Bartonella henselae: The GP's Guide to Cat Scratch Disease

Send us Fan Mail Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae — a bacterium carried by cats and their fleas — and it's far more common in general practice than most GPs realise. The classic presentation of tender regional lymphadenopathy after a kitten scratch is easy enough, but 10–15% of patients develop systemic disease involving the liver, spleen, eyes, or nervous system, and in patients over 60 the picture can look nothing like the textbook: think fever of unknown origin, culture...