Cat-scratch disease: Experience in a tertiary care children's hospital.

Introduction. Bartonella henselae is the etiologic agent in cat-scratch disease. It affects children and young adults. The clinical spectrum is wide; the most common clinical presentation is a solitary lymphadenopathy. The objective of this study was to analyze the epidemiology, clinical features, and course of this disease in a tertiary care hospital in Argentina. Population and methods. Retrospective, descriptive, and observational study conducted at a tertiary care pediatric hospital from January 1st , 2019 to June 30th, 2021. Children aged 0 to 16 years with compatible clinical signs and symptoms and positive serology were included. Results. A total of 150 patients were included; their mean age was 7.9 years ± 3.68. Of them, 68.7% reported having contact with cats. The most common reason for consultation was the presence of solitary lymphadenopathies (84.7%) in the head and neck. Febrile syndrome without source was the reason for consultation in 15.5% of cases, with a pathological abdominal ultrasound scan in 85.7%. IgM and IgG were positive in 88%. With the result of a positive serology test, 44% received antibiotic treatment. Protracted lymphadenopathy was the main reason for antibiotic treatment; the agent most commonly used was azithromycin (42.4%). Fourteen percent (n = 21) required hospitalization. Conclusions. Diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion, epidemiological history, and complementary testing. Its typical presentation is a solitary enlarged lymph node in the head and neck. Due to the high frequency of hepatosplenic involvement, an abdominal ultrasound scan would be indicated in children with fever. Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.

Citation

María I Deregibus, Eliana I Bagnara, Ana Buchovsky. Cat-scratch disease: Experience in a tertiary care children's hospital. Archivos argentinos de pediatria. 2023 Feb 01;121(1):e202202592

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PMID: 36315437

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