{"id":89643,"date":"2019-01-16T16:48:49","date_gmt":"2019-01-17T02:48:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=89643"},"modified":"2020-03-13T15:05:31","modified_gmt":"2020-03-14T01:05:31","slug":"keiki-and-cat-scratch-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2019\/01\/16\/keiki-and-cat-scratch-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawai\u02bbi keiki appear more susceptible to cat scratch disease"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"cats\"<\/p>\n

Research by doctors in the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> Pediatric Residency Program<\/a> at Kapiʻolani<\/span> Medical Center for Women and Children shows that cat scratch disease is more frequent in Hawaiʻi<\/span>. The doctors examined cases of cat scratch disease affecting children at one medical center over an eight-year period.<\/p>\n

\"Scarlett
Scarlett Johnson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“We think it is three and a half times more common here, and why that is, we think we have a higher incidence of the bacteria in our kitten and cat population in Hawaiʻi<\/span>,” said Scarlett Johnson<\/a><\/strong>, lead researcher and a Hawaiʻi<\/span> Island native now completing her medical residency in the 糖心视频<\/abbr> Pediatric Residency Program at Kapiʻolani<\/span> Medical Center for Women and Children.<\/p>\n

Cat scratch disease is caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae<\/em>, which is generally benign and doesn\u2019t always trigger the disease. But sometimes—and it is still rare—the bacteria can cause Cat Scratch Fever, which can become very serious. At its worst, the disease can cause bone infections, encephalitis, which can lead to seizures or coma or even blindness.<\/p>\n

The disease is difficult to diagnose<\/h2>\n

Researchers stress that the disease is rare, but because of this, it is also difficult for doctors to diagnose, and once they do, to settle on the recommended treatment and how long to apply it.<\/p>\n

Because it is so uncommon, in the eight-year period studied, the researchers only gathered about 20 cases. They hope to collaborate with other U.S.<\/abbr> hospitals that primarily serve children, to increase the numbers of cases studied. <\/p>\n

“Because there are a variety of tests and imaging that you can use, we\u2019re hoping ultimately that we can give some sort of guidance to clinicians going forward, because it is very rare relative to other diseases that we see,” said Johnson.<\/p>\n

People get cat scratch disease from cats, it is spread between cats by fleas. Kittens often have a higher level of the bacteria.<\/p>\n

“So one way to hopefully prevent this and not get it, is to make sure you are trying to control the flea population especially with your cats. Maybe avoiding wild cats which oftentimes have more fleas,” said Johnson.<\/p>\n

“A lot of times the children have a prolonged fever, and parents and doctors are naturally very nervous,” said Johnson. “They do several different workups trying to figure out what\u2019s going on and that can mean a longer stay in the hospital. If we can get good diagnostic testing and we can start treatment earlier maybe we can avoid some of the expense and emotional stress for families.”<\/p>\n

Johnson worked closely with Jessica Kosut<\/a><\/strong>, assistant professor of pediatrics<\/a> at the 糖心视频<\/abbr> John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM)<\/a> and Pediatrics Division Chief at Kapiʻolani<\/span> Medical Center, the training hospital partner for pediatrics at JABSOM<\/abbr>. Johnson also was advised during her research by Natascha Ching<\/a><\/strong>, a Hawaiʻi<\/span> pediatric infectious disease physician at Kapiʻolani<\/span> Medical Center.<\/p>\n

—By Tina Shelton<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Doctors in the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> Pediatric Residency Program examined cases of cat scratch disease affecting children at one medical center over an eight-year period.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[165,31,1363,1106,9],"class_list":["post-89643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-health","tag-john-a-burns-school-of-medicine","tag-manoa-research","tag-pediatrics","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t