I am concerned about a child (age 3) who is showing aggressive behavior and I know was bitten by a cat. I'm looking for info on symptoms of Bart in children or anyone who has seen this. Thanks!
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
Galaxy Lab has probably the best current test- off antibiotics, and it's a triple blood draw over a week.
And get rid of the cat. Get the cat treated.
Personal experience: Bartonella in a child can be completely destructive, and the longer it goes untreated, the more entrenched it can become.
Posted by AML94 (Member # 44454) on :
The cat can be tested by the NCSU vector borne disease lab. Galaxy labs grew out of the NCSU lab. I'm having my cat tested right now.
Posted by rowingmom (Member # 41213) on :
A bartonella infection caused PANS symptomology in our daughter which didn't resolve until her bartonella titers began dropping. Here is a list of her symptoms and timeline associated with her infection. Her psychological/neurological symptoms developed a full 2 years before the physical symptoms came to the forefront:
2008 - motor/vocal tics, emotional lability (including rage), age regressive behaviour, low level OCD, urinary frequency, diminished fine motor ability, insomnia, loss of executive function. Waxed and waned with strep/viral infections.
2010 - Dx ADHD, Tourettes, Aspergers, motor delay, probable PANDAS.
Jan 2011 - shin/forearm pain, cyclic IBS, foot (sole) pain, dizziness, palpitations, chest pain, anxiety/panic attacks, pick-like skull pain, pain and stiffness at base of skull, tingling in extremities, chills and hot flashes, extreme fatigue, nightly fever.
Jan 2013 - Bartonella IgG titers declined from 160 (Jun 2011) to 80. CD57 16.
April 2013 - Weaned from abx treatment. Continued with Buhner herbs, Terry Wahls/PerfectHealthDiet gf/cf/sf diet. Minimizing EMF exposure.
Sept 2013 - CD57 45.
Oct 2013 - All symptoms (PANS and pain/fatigue) 95% resolved. No flares with viral or other infections. Herxing remains with changes in herbal protocols.
Nov 2013 - Improvement to 98% with addition of herbal protozoan treatment.
Dec 2013 - ANA titers negative. PANS symptoms resolved. Regular classroom requiring no accommodations. B+/A student.
Mar 2014 - Continued improvement in cognitive/executive function with increased dosages of cryptolepis/sida/alchornea tincture from Buhner's babesia protocol. Improvement to 99%.
[ 08-29-2014, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: rowingmom ]
Posted by Marnie (Member # 773) on :
I don't agree with rid bartonella first, Bb second.
With Bb -> a major immune impact, that underlying infection will continue to "round up" other infections.
NORMALLY "cat scratch disease" is cleared (by our defense system)
UNLESS
someone is immune compromised.
Ongoing exposure to cats and dogs which carry fleas = ***ongoing risks.** Get it, clear it with abx, get it...
*Mosquitoes* also carry bartonella (along with WNV, etc.).
Bartonella can be carried by: ticks, fleas, sand flies, and mosquitoes.
Epidemiologic Notes and Reports ***Encephalitis Associated with Cat Scratch Disease*** - Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Florida, 1994.
He needs powerful antibiotics, IMO.
Good luck. May God Bless you and your child (and his doctor)
Posted by patty7 (Member # 5483) on :
Thanks, everyone. Just got back from vet with cat. Was told cats don't transmit bartonella by biting but from scratching with claws which puts it into the body. (My cat has no front claws- got him at spca already declawed) Bart test is expensive and 4 weeks of azithromycin is also expensive. So according to vet I shouldn't worry. Not sure if I believe it
Posted by AML94 (Member # 44454) on :
No, don't believe him. Bartonella can be transmitted by scratches! but it also is transmitted by flea bites. Has the cat been on good flea control at all times?
Posted by AML94 (Member # 44454) on :
Also, cats often scratch with their back feet. Usually unintentionally, when they are pushing off to get away. I have a long scar on my leg from my declawed cat, from back in the day when we still did flea baths and dips. I was in the tub with him and he got sick of it and pushed off my thigh.