Unusual eruption as a presenting symptom of cat scratch disease

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 41; no. 5; pp. 833 - 836
• Main Authors: Landau, Marina, Kletter, Yehudith, Avidor, Boaz, Ephrat b, Gabi, Ephros, Moshe, Brenner, Sarah, Giladi, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01-11-1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the skin; Bartonella henselae; Biological and medical sciences; Cat-Scratch Disease - diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Skin Diseases - diagnosis; Skin Diseases - pathology; Sweet Syndrome - diagnosis; Infection; Case study; Human; Skin disease; Cat scratch disease; Bacteriosis; Clinical form
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/S0190-9622(99)70337-3

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a common infectious cause of subacute regional lymphadenopathy.
Bartonella henselae is the principal etiologic agent. About 10% of CSD patients experience atypical manifestations, including rashes. The most common cutaneous manifestation of CSD is a papule at the inoculation site. We report a case of CSD presenting with an eruption on the upper trunk, reminiscent of Sweet’s syndrome, accompanied by lymphadenopathy, arthralgia, and fever. Response to systemic corticosteroids was remarkable. Histopathologic findings refuted the diagnosis of Sweet’s syndrome. Identification of anti-
B henselae antibodies and
B henselae DNA in the affected lymph node confirmed the diagnosis of CSD. This is a first report of extensive papuloedematous eruption as a cutaneous manifestation of CSD. Accurate diagnosis is possible due to the availability of serological tests and DNA amplification techniques. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;41:833-6.)