Possible role of high-dose corticosteroids in the treatment of cat-scratchdisease encephalopathy

Approximately 2% of the estimated 24,000 patients in the United States who contract cat scratch disease annually develop neurologic complications. Bet ween 1989 and 1999, 36 patients were admitted to our hospital with cat scra tch disease; 25% had neurologic complications, and the majority experienced lengthy hospital stays. We describe a case of cat scratch disease encephal opathy in a 4-year-old girl who responded to high-dose corticosteroid thera py. Further studies are warranted to determine if corticosteroid therapy sh ortens the duration of symptoms, lessens the severity of disease, and ultim ately improves the outcome for patients with cat-scratch disease encephalop athy.