TITLE:
A Case Report of Bartonella henselae Infection Causing Fever of Unknown Origin: Unveiling a Stealthy Pathogen
AUTHORS:
Neeladri Misra
KEYWORDS:
Bartonella henselae, Cat Scratch Disease, Lymphadenopathy, Immunocompetent, Cat, Endocarditis, Doxycycline, Rifampin
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Internal Medicine,
Vol.14 No.3,
July
25,
2024
ABSTRACT: Bartonella species are bacterial pathogens responsible for Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) with various clinical manifestations, ranging from self-limiting febrile illnesses to severe systemic infections. Diagnosis is often challenging due to its insidious nature and variable presentation based on the body’s immune status. Such a scenario emerged when a 25-year-old male presented to our hospital with nonspecific symptoms of Fever of unknown origin that were not responding to antibiotics until a timely diagnosis of Bartonella infection. This case report highlights the importance of considering Bartonella as a potential etiology in patients with prolonged Fever of unknown origin, especially in endemic regions.