Cat-scratch disease: a review of the literature.

Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is a common cause of chronic lymphadenopathy (especially regional) that primarily affects children and adolescents. The clinical diagnosis of CSD is based on the presence of three of four criteria, which may include a positive CSD skin test. Usually a benign, self-limiting disease, CSD may sometimes have atypical manifestations and serious complications, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. Cat-scratch disease is now known to be caused by a small, gram-negative, pleomorphic bacterium. Antibiotics are dramatically effective against CSD in immunocompromised patients, but are not [corrected] of proven benefit in typical cases. Most patients recover with only symptomatic treatment. This article reviews the history of CSD research, clinical features of typical and atypical CSD, and current topics of interest in CSD research, especially in the areas of diagnosis and treatment.