Man scratched by cat, suddenly lost vision

The case of an unnamed 47-year-old man with a bacterial infection that caused optic neuritis and led to vision loss was reported in March 2023 in the American Journal of Case Reports.

He initially had a fever, night sweats and headaches, so he thought he had Covid-19 and took fever-reducing medicine. But after testing negative for Covid several times, he went to the doctor and was diagnosed with "post-Covid".

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But on the way home, he suddenly lost vision in his left eye. The patient rushed to the nearest emergency room for an eye exam.

Initially, doctors suspected meningitis. But when the patient said he had just adopted a cat two months ago, and the cat "was constantly scratching him," they suspected cat scratch disease. Tests showed he had been infected with the bacteria Bartonella henselae - which is transmitted by cat scratches, according to NY Breaking.

Vision in the left eye has decreased to 2/10.

He was prescribed a six-week course of antibiotics and discharged.

Upon re-examination, the patient reported that the headache and fever had gone away. Vision in the left eye had improved to 6.5/10.

It is important to recognize Bartonella infection when patients present with fever and changes in vision, said Dr. Rania Saxena, a physician at the University of North Texas Medical Branch (USA), who led the report.

This is because Bartonella bacteria can cause painless vision loss and is the leading cause of infectious neuroretinitis.

Early recognition and treatment are needed to prevent vision loss and promote early recovery.

ILLUSTRATION: SHUTTERSTOCK

What is cat scratch disease?

Cat scratch disease is caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae from cats and infects humans.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about 40% of cats have been infected with this bacteria from fleas, most commonly in kittens.

It can then be transmitted to humans through scratches.

The disease rarely causes symptoms in cats. But in humans, symptoms can appear about 3 to 14 days after infection. These include swelling and redness around the scratch with pus; fever; headache; loss of appetite; fatigue. In rare cases, it can also cause inflammation in internal organs, causing problems such as vision loss and behavioral changes.

In rare cases, men may have difficulty getting an erection, according to NY Breaking.

Only 1 - 2% of cases cause loss of vision, in some cases, patients may become permanently blind.

What should be done to prevent infection?

The US CDC recommends that people do the following to avoid infection:

• Immediately wash cat bites and scratches with soap and running water.
• Wash your hands after playing with cats.
• Don't play rough with your cat.
• Don't let your cat lick open wounds.
• Do not touch stray or feral cats.
• Treat your cat to prevent flea infestations, according to NY Breaking.