Comments
INITIAL SYMPTOMS:
Cellulitis of wound from dog or cat bite/scratch followed by fever and sepsis;
Risk factors for infection are prior splenectomy, alcoholism, and other causes of impaired immunity. Cellulitis may be followed by septicemia after the lick, bite, or scratch of an infected cat or dog. Meningitis, endocarditis, and septic arthritis have also been reported. Patients may develop a rash, thrombocytopenia, petechiae, acute renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, gangrene, and shock. [ID, p. 58, p. 1755] Sepsis and meningitis are the most common presentations. The case-fatality rate for septicemia is 13% to 33%, but rates as high as 60% to 80% have been reported in patients with septic shock and organ failure. Other complications are hemolytic uremic syndrome, glomerulonephritis, acute renal failure, and pneumonia. [PPID, p. 2645-7] Endocarditis is rare. [ABX Guide]
For updated text and symptoms of infectious diseases, see iddx.com.