From the Guidelines
Cat pets can cause lung diseases such as pneumonia-like symptoms due to cat scratch disease, which is caused by Bartonella henselae bacteria, as seen in ≤2% of cases 1. When considering the potential lung diseases caused by cat pets, it's essential to prioritize the most recent and highest quality evidence. According to the 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1, cat scratch disease can lead to extranodal disease, including lung involvement, in a small percentage of cases. Some key points to consider include:
- The disease course of cat scratch disease varies, but lymphadenopathy generally resolves within 1–6 months 1.
- Bacillary angiomatosis, seen in immunocompromised patients, especially with AIDS, can occur from either B. henselae or Bartonella quintana, but this is not directly related to lung disease caused by cat pets in the general population.
- Diagnosis of Bartonella infections may be difficult, but serological testing and PCR can support the diagnosis 1. In terms of management, reducing exposure to cat allergens and bacteria can help prevent lung diseases. This can be achieved through:
- Regular home cleaning
- Using HEPA air purifiers
- Keeping cats out of bedrooms
- Washing hands after handling cats It's also important to note that treatment of cat scratch disease with antimicrobial agents, such as azithromycin, has had variable results, but may be effective in reducing lymph node size 1.
From the Research
Lung Diseases Caused by Cat Pets
- Cat pets can cause various lung diseases, including those caused by fungal and bacterial infections 2.
- One such disease is Cryptococcosis, which is caused by the Cryptococcus neoformans-Cryptococcus gattii species complex 3.
- Cryptococcosis can present in nasal, central nervous system, cutaneous, and systemic forms, and can be diagnosed through antigen detection in body fluids or isolation and polymerase chain reaction 3.
- While Cryptococcosis is a significant disease, other studies have focused on cat-scratch disease, which is caused by Bartonella henselae 4, 5, 6.
- However, cat-scratch disease primarily manifests as lymphadenitis, and its association with lung disease is not well-established in the provided studies.
- It is essential to note that the studies on cat-scratch disease do not provide direct evidence of lung diseases caused by cat pets, but rather highlight the potential for cats to transmit infectious agents to humans 4, 5, 6.
Prevention and Management
- Efficient preventive measures for lung diseases caused by cat pets have not been demonstrated, and vaccines are not available 3.
- Treatment of Cryptococcosis typically involves antifungal medications, such as amphotericin B, ketoconazole, fluconazole, and itraconazole, and may require surgical excision of infected tissue 3.
- In contrast, cat-scratch disease is often self-limited and may not require antibiotic treatment, although azithromycin has been shown to speed recovery in some cases 4, 5.