Cat Scratch Fever

I have always had cats, basically my whole life, up until the last four years since the cat I had was old and passed away. I've been so busy with being a mother, having two children close in age, a pet was the last thing on my mind. It's been a month now that we have had our new cat. She's about 20 weeks old.

I noticed about three weeks ago my lymphnodes under my armpit area weren't swollen, but they throbbed and I knew that feeling wasnt right, so I was a little worried about what was wrong. I finally went to the doctor this week and he sent me home to get blood work done and a chest x-ray. Well I have tried a few things like not wearing my bra to bed or around the house thinking it might help drain them if there was no pressure, but that didnt seem to make it better. I also started to watch what I was eating and everything that I had done in the last three weeks.

Then it dawned on me as I was talking to my husband, since we got the cat, his eyes have been really red dry and itchy. He knows he has an allergy, but he's just never had that symptom around cats before. He metioned maybe I'm allergic to the cat also. I thought it made sense. If your body is trying to fight something off like an allergy who knows maybe that's my way in dealing with it. Come to think about it, this all started within the time of getting the cat and it's the only thing that I can think has changed. But then again I've always had cats and no problems, so I didn't fully believe the allergy thing.

I typed "lymphnodes and allergies to cats" in the search engine and "Cat Scratch Fever" or "Disease" came up and sure enough it affects the lymphnodes. If the cat, who is infected, has scratched or say bit your hand, then the closest lymphnodes are under that arm and they will be affected.

I am somewhat relieved now knowing this is a real possiblity of what I have, so I'm going to get the blood work done for sure to find out. I wanted to share this info because cat scratch fever goes usually undetected. By the time people figure out what it is (if they ever do), it's gone. But in the mean time, it's frustrating and a little scary not knowing. Children can feel ill from it as well, but I would have never put 2 and 2 together. Just something to think about. Apparently most cats sometime in their life will have it. It doesn't harm them, but can make us feel ill.

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