title: Suspecting optic neuritis, diagnosing Bartonella cat scratch disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bartonella cat scratch disease is classically a febrile illness, in conjunction with lymphadenopathy and cat exposure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report 2 atypical cases of cat scratch disease with only blurred vision and headache.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case reports.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two young adults with unilateral blurred vision, retro-orbital headache, and a positive Bartonella henselae serologic result, without fever or lymphadenopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Funduscopic examination and B henselae serologic findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both patients had optic disc swelling and a macular star on funduscopic examination, suggestive of infection. Infection was confirmed by positive serologic results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cat scratch disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with blurred vision and headache, even in the absence of fever, lymphadenopathy, or both.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Joanna J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mandell
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Otis
authors.forename: Madina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holmuhamedova
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Perloff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*