Serious Symptoms Of Cat Scratch Disease

Seizures

When cat scratch disease leads to neurological complications, seizures can be one of several potential symptoms. These neurological issues only occur in rare cases, but they should be treated as quickly as possible because they can be signs of very serious issues. Seizures occur when there's abnormal electricity in the brain. Rather than creating normal connections and synapses, strange electrical signals are sent through the nervous system. The most commonly recognized type of seizure is a grand mal, which causes muscle convulsions and jerking. Absence seizures occur when an affected individual ceases to be aware of the world for a few seconds. There are also sensory seizures that can cause strange sights, sounds, and smells.

Endocarditis

Endocarditis, as mentioned briefly earlier can be a symptom of cat scratch disease, though it doesn't always occur. This condition causes the heart's inner lining, called the endocardium, to become infected. This lining covers the heart valves and heart chambers. When endocarditis occurs as a result of cat scratch disease, it's usually because infectious germs have spread from the initial scratch to the heart through the bloodstream. They then attach to the heart and cause damage. Though a rarer complication from cat scratch disease, endocarditis requires very quick medical treatment to keep the infection from destroying the patient's heart valves or damaging them beyond repair. Without treatment, endocarditis is often deadly.