{"id":9735,"date":"2019-08-11T12:20:06","date_gmt":"2019-08-11T12:20:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=9735"},"modified":"2021-04-25T16:11:17","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T16:11:17","slug":"14-common-symptoms-of-bartonella","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-symptoms-of-bartonella\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Symptoms of Bartonella"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Infection with the Bartonella type of bacteria leads to a condition known as bartonellosis. This is an infection that can cause mild symptoms, especially at first, but can progress to a more severe infection it left untreated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extreme cases can cause swelling of the brain, heart disease, and infection of the eyes that can lead to a partial loss of vision. These symptoms may clear up with treatment, though in rare cases symptoms may continue to persist even after the bacterial infection is gone. This is especially true of vision loss, with some patients never fully recovering sight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to recognize symptoms in order to ensure you receive the proper treatment as early as possible. There are specific types of antibiotics that Gram-negative bacteria like Bartonella respond to, so if the infection isn\u2019t appropriately identified, the wrong medication may delay recovery since not all of them will be effective treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. A Weak Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You may notice an increase in body temperature resulting in a low-grade fever<\/a>, especially early in the infection. This is pretty common for most bacterial infections and is a strong signal that your body is doing what it can to help fight off the infection.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To confirm fever, take your temperature under the tongue several times over the course of the day. Our temperature can change throughout the day, and this normal fluctuation can make it difficult to confirm a fever. Also, avoid eating or drinking anything for 30 minutes before taking your temperature under the tongue. Otherwise, your reading could be thrown off, especially if you have consumed anything that is either hot or cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re running a fever consistently, then that could be a sign that you are currently fighting off an infection and might benefit from further medical attention and prescription drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Swollen Lymph Nodes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lymph nodes<\/a> run through the body and have their own circulatory system. This system is sort of like the blood system, except it carries lymphatic fluid instead of blood. Problems with lymph nodes are a classic sign of infection. As your body tries to compensate and fight off the bacteria, these nodes can swell up fairly large and may even become tender to the touch or large enough to be visibly noticeable.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common area for swollen nodes is in the neck area, but nodes can extend far up, almost to the facial region. Other nodes are located in the armpits and in the groin region. It\u2019s not uncommon for these to be vulnerable to swelling as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This swelling doesn\u2019t happen immediately after you are infected. It most commonly happens 7 to 21 days after you first were exposed to the bacteria strain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Lumps at Scratch or Bite Location<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your infection happened due to localized exposure, you may notice some symptoms at the initial site of infection, even though the bacteria can easily move around your system after you have been exposed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In cases where the Bartonella <\/a>was introduced through a wound, like a cat scratch or insect bite, you may notice marks forming around that area. Specifically, bumps that like somewhat like acne may start to form.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only can this symptom help you to better identify the infection, but the resulting bumps can also help you understand how you may have come down with the infection in the first place. It\u2019s best to try to limit our exposure to whatever may have caused the infection in the first place. Doing so will help you recover more quickly and prevent you from coming down with a similar infection again in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Pain in Bones or Joints<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This condition can adversely affect your bones<\/a>, leading to some uncomfortable symptoms that can start to become irritating if left untreated. Common locations of pain are the neck and back. You may notice these parts of your bodies feel stiff, but unlike regular muscle pain, the discomfort will likely be located more in the bone areas, like the spine or ribs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another possible area of bone pain is in the shins. This can produce a very distinct sensation of pain and can, along with other symptoms, be indicative of a Bartonella infection. It\u2019s important to look at the symptoms as a whole before making any determination as to your state of health. Multiple symptoms put together can indicate an infection, but common problems like bone pain or joint stiffness can also be caused by many other issues and may not help much without other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Headache<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Headache <\/a>is another possible symptom. This can manifest as a sharp, stabbing pain or something that resembles a duller ache. Everyone has slightly different body chemistry, so the manifestations of symptoms aren\u2019t exactly the same from one person to the next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone affected by this illness will have a headache. Some people may run through many other symptoms and even a severe infection doesn\u2019t mean you will have a headache. If you do, it might not be constant. The pain could come and go periodically. It\u2019s possible to wake up in the middle of the night with a headache but feel fine during the day. Likewise, a small headache could come on at any point of the day, and it might last for a few minutes or for the rest of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is another symptom that is worth mentioning to your doctor because every little clue helps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Abdominal Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pain in the stomach alone is never fun, but it\u2019s worse when it\u2019s a sign of a deeper condition, such as Bartonella infection. Especially if you are dealing with other symptoms, the onset of stomach pain is never a welcome condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This pain can occur without stomach irritation like nausea, vomiting<\/a>, constipation, diarrhea, or gas. You may simply feel pain in the abdominal region without any other effects. Sometimes the pain alone can be enough to make you feel nauseous, even if that isn\u2019t one of the core symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience this symptom, pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help reduce the pain. Medicines made specifically for the stomach may not help as much as a general pain reliever. It\u2019s important to ensure you are treating the underlying condition and not just the symptoms, so make sure you seek medical attention if you suspect Bartonella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Warts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is a specific type of warts <\/a>that can appear with this condition, although they normally don\u2019t appear in mild cases or early on in the infection. These also only occur with infections caused by the Bartonella bacilliformis strain, which is also known as Carrion\u2019s disease.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lumps of this nature are known as Peruvian warts, due to the frequency of this condition in the region in and around Peru. The scientific name for these warts are verruga peruana, and they will usually appear as bumps that are either red, purple, or somewhere in between those colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warts grow under the skin and will eventually begin to protrude out, looking somewhat like a large, inflamed mole. They are pretty noticeable since they often are a bright color and can easily start bleeding. Short of leaking blood, they may just become raw, which still results in a tender sore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Presence of Rash<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your body may begin to break out in a rash. This is different from warts or disfiguration at a puncture site that led to the infection. The rash <\/a>looks more like a typical rash you might see from poison ivy or an allergic reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since this infection can spread rapidly, the rash could appear in any area of your body. It could remain a very light rash that covers a small surface area of your body, or it could progress to something that covers a lot of skin and itches intensely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice a rash along with other symptoms, it makes sense to get checked out by a doctor. A rash can have a lot of causes, but combined with these other symptoms, it is unlikely to be due to a typical cause like an allergy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can apply a mild over the counter rash cream until you can seek medical treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Muscle Ache<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Infection with Bartonella bacteria causes a host of adverse health reactions in the body. The bacterial infection is a severe issue for the body to deal with, and it mounts its defense against the pathogen by signaling the immune system<\/a> to create antibodies and white blood cells to combat the infection.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the body increases the presence of antibodies, it sends them out to eliminate the pathogen. The antibodies work themselves into muscle tissue to eradicate any bacteria lurking in the muscular system. As a result of the antibody’s action, the patient may start to experience the onset of muscle soreness and stiffness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most patients that experience this symptom of infection liken it to the same effect of soreness you get when dealing with a case of the flu. The body follows the same biological processes to rid itself of the bacteria, as it does when trying to eliminate the virus, causing the flu. Doctors treat the symptoms using OTC painkillers and anti-inflammatories to provide the patient with relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Anemia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bacteria responsible for creating cat-scratch infection are particularly aggressive. Symptoms described above can manifest in as little as 24 to 36-hours after receiving a scratch from an infected feline. As the bacteria enters the bloodstream, it causes complications with hemoglobin production. Hemoglobin is the protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bartonella bacteria causes the body to produce less hemoglobin, resulting in the onset of a condition known as \u201canemia<\/a>.\u201d Patients with anemia notice that they start to experience symptoms of cognitive dysfunction and lethargy. The patient may feel fatigued throughout the day, even though they got a good night\u2019s sleep. The affected individual may also have problems with thinking clearly and making decisions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After doctors treat the patient for bacterial infection, the symptoms of anemia will tend to dissipate over the course of a few days, with no lasting damage to the patient\u2019s mental state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Blurred Vision<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the patient sustains a cat-scratch to the face, the bacteria may start to colonize around the eyes and ears. As a result of the infection, the patient may find that they begin to experience the onset of vision problems. As the bacteria colonize around the optic nerve and tissues of the eyeball, they begin to disrupt the electrical signals from the optic nerve to the brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of this disruption, the patient starts to find that they develop a blurry vision. Blurred vision<\/a> is a sign of a severe infection, and patients should receive immediate medical assistance to eliminate the bacteria, causing the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors treat these symptoms with the use of antibiotics to kill off the invading bacteria. In most cases, the patient will recover their vision without any lasting damage to the eyes. The patient may need to make use of artificial tears during their recovery to prevent the onset of dry eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Cognitive Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most cat scratches occur around the face or the neck. As the Bartonella bacteria leave the cat’s claws and enter the break in the skin, it starts to colonize around the infection site. If the patient does have a scratch on the neck, the bacteria can begin to cause problems at the base of the brainstem. The bacteria <\/a>start to interrupt the normal electrical signals coming to and from the brain. As a result, the patient may begin to notice the onset of cognitive issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may find that they have a hard time trying to maintain their focus. The affected individual may also find that their thinking feels clouded, and they struggle with making decisions. These symptoms are signs of cognitive disturbance. If left unmanaged and untreated, the patient will notice an increase in cognitive disturbance, as well as feelings of fatigue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors treat the infection through the use of antibiotics. After the patient receives treatment, they should return to normal levels of cognitive function in a few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Fatigue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with the onset of infection with the Bartonella bacteria may find that they start to feel tired throughout the day. The patient may get 8-hours of uninterrupted sleep, and wake up feeling terrible. Fatigue describes a situation where the patient feels like they have no energy. They may struggle to think clearly, and they also experience impaired decision-making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the fatigue <\/a>symptoms, the patient may want to sleep all day. They may struggle to get out of bed in the morning, and they may insist on taking an afternoon nap because they feel tired. The onset of fatigue in infected individuals occurs due to a variety of factors. The patient may be dealing with a case of anemia as described above, or the bacteria may be causing nerve signal disruption and neurotransmitter abnormalities in the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with feelings of fatigue will notice a marked improvement in their condition after starting treatment with antibiotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Balance Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, cats typically scratch the neck or face of the patient, resulting in the transmission of Bartonella bacteria. As the bacteria start to colonize around the brain, it may lead to the onset of problems with the patient’s gait or balance. The cerebellum is the region of the brain responsible for maintaining gait <\/a>and balance, especially while moving.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the infection, the patient may find that they lose spatial awareness of what’s around them. They may start to lose their balance, and fall; when rising from a seated position. The patient may also develop a condition known as ataxia. Patients with ataxia experience problems with their walking gait, and they may take awkward steps. The patients may even start to develop the onset of tremors, the hands may tremble, and they may experience this effect in the limbs as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These symptoms are signs of advanced infection with Bartonella bacteria. The patient requires immediate treatment with antibiotics to eradicate the bacteria and return the patient to health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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