Cat-scratch disease with multiple bone involvement

Abstract

Cat-scratch disease is produced by the bacterium Bartonella henselae, a gram-negative bacillus transmitted through cutaneous inoculation by a cat or dog's scratch or bite. It has a wide clinical spectrum, from a typical picture characterized by a regional lymphadenopathy near to the inoculation site to atypical pictures with systemic compromise. Bone compromise is infrequent, it represents around 0.2-0.5 % of the cases. We present a 3-year-old previously healthy patient, who was admitted with prolonged fever related to pain and movement limitation of the cervical spine. Diagnosis of cat-scratch disease with multiple bone involvement was reached.