Definition

Noun: * An infectious bacterial disease: Cat scratch disease is an illness caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae. It is typically transmitted to humans through a scratch, bite, or lick from an infected cat, especially a kitten.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor diagnosed the swollen lymph nodes as cat scratch disease.
  • A common symptom of cat scratch disease is a small bump or blister at the site of the scratch.
  • Most cases of cat scratch disease are mild and resolve without treatment.

Advanced Usage

• Medical Context: The term is used specifically in medical and public health contexts to describe this zoonotic infection. It is often abbreviated as CSD in clinical notes.
  • The pediatrician considered CSD in the differential diagnosis for the child's fever and lymphadenopathy.

Variants and Related Words

• Cat scratch fever: This is a common informal synonym for cat scratch disease, though it is not the preferred medical term.
• Bartonellosis: This is the broader term for diseases caused by bacteria, which includes cat scratch disease.
• Bartonella henselae: This is the specific name of the bacterium that causes the disease.

Synonyms

• Cat scratch fever (informal)
• Benign lymphoreticulosis (an older, less common medical term)

Related Phrases

• To contract cat scratch disease: To become infected with the illness.
  • He likely contracted cat scratch disease while playing with his new kitten.

Noun

1. a disease thought to be transmitted to humans by a scratch from a cat