What Causes Flu Like Symptoms After A Cat Bite?

Posted on Wed, 16 Jul 2014

Question: I was bit by a stray cat on Wednesday got a rabies vaccination on Thursday and now it is Friday and I'm starting to feel flu like symptoms am I getting what's called cat scratch fever or is this a side effect of the rabies vaccination?

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Not cat-scratch; vaccination side effect

Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help.

Cat-scratch fever has the below mentioned symptoms and has an incubation period of about 1 - 2 weeks (which means that the symptoms appear only 1 - 2 weeks after being bitten or scratched by a cat). The symptoms include:
-Low-grade fever
-Tiredness
-Headaches
-Bump or blister where you were scratched or bitten
-Swollen lymph nodes around the region where you were bitten or scratched

It is also important to note that flu-like symptoms are indeed a side effect of the rabies vaccination that you have taken. I would request you to report to the doctor who provided you with the vaccination for further management of your side effects sir.

I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.

Best wishes.

Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar