Cat-Scratch Disease Diagnosis
To diagnose cat-scratch disease, your healthcare provider need to have a physical exam and ask you certain questions about the symptoms, health conditions, and your exposure to possibly infected cats. Based on the provided or collected information, blood tests can be performed to look for antibodies that the body releases to fight off the bacteria. Even when the results are positive, it does not necessarily mean that you have the disease. That is mainly because it may take up to several weeks for the body to produce enough antibodies. In addition, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be useful in determining whether bacteria are present in the blood. This test is suitable for diagnosing an active cat-scratch disease. [8]
