Anonymous

4 years

Septic Arthritis or Musculoskeletal issue?

Hi, I am a physiotherapy student, and during semester break last December, i worked as a part time warehouse worker for book company.

In the middle of the month in December, on my way back home from work i was bitten by a stray cat, until it pierces into my dermis. Therefore, the next day i went to the clinic and the doctor prescribe me with antibiotic and pain killer as he had seen pus at the wound area and at that time it’s already swollen. He also prescribe a gel like topical cream for my finger . The doctor also had given me a jab which i believe for the infection. I ate the medicine for 3-4 days and stop eating the medicine as i saw the swelling is no longer there, but still used the gel cream. A week after, i had a fever for four days. I start to get chills on the night, and my body starts getting warm and my joints started to pain especially my wrist joints. The next day, i couldn’t lift both of my wrist joints and my knees were also very weakened, besides fever, my gums and the my fingers which was bitten by the cat were also swollen. i also had 3 ulcers on my tongue during 3 days of fever. I went to a different clinic, and i told the doctor that i had a fever, and my wrist joints were painful and i told the doctor my occupation. i didn’t give detail information to the doctor as i think it was normal to feel joint pain and i also didn’t tell the doctor about my swollen finger. The doctor prescribe me with antibiotic, pain killer and another medicine which i don’t remember and he also advice me to wear wrist supporters. I still did the same, which i didn’t finish up the medicine as my symptomps were disappearing. At first, i thought it was a normal fever, maybe due to overwork or maybe i got infected from my family members who were having a fever also at that time. But starting from around 1 week ago, my joints (wrists joint and knee joint, especially during my prayer time and in the morning time after i woke up from sleep, sometimes i also couldn’t simple stuff anymore such as opening tight water bottle cap) it started to pain again until today and it started to affect on my small metacarpal joints.

Due to this problems, i am concern about the conditions that i am having.

Is it because of the infection? or is it just because of some musculoskeletal issues? Thank you.

Greetings, thank you for your question.

The answer is a general description of the problem you’re having. Please click on this link (DoctorOnCall) to speak with us.

Based on the above information, we understand your concern about the problem you’re having. For your information, following a case of cat bite, a number of complication may occur, such as:

  • Cellulitis (infection that spread towards surrounding tissues causing swelling, pus and pain)
  • Septicemia (infection that spreads into your blood vessel)
  • Arthritis (infection that spreads to the joint causing inflammation)
  • Acute carpal tunnel syndrome (rare case that happen in case of neglected cat bite)

In case of a cat bite referred to a health facility, the appropriate course of management includes wound cleansing, antibiotics, debridement and tetanus shot. Because you already referred to a doctor, please continue to finish your antibiotics and observe any changes or improvement.

For further information, please click on the link (DoctorOnCall) to contact your doctor or on the link (DoctorOnCallEPharma) to speak with our pharmacist online. We will protect your privacy. Thank you.

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