[Cat scratch disease: clinical characteristics in hospitalised children]. / Enfermedad por arañazo de gato: características clínicas en niños hospitalizados.

INTRODUCTION: There are few communications as regards the epidemiology and clinical features of cat scratch disease (CSD) in Uruguayan children. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features in hospitalised children at Pereira Rossell Children's Hospital with CSD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive, retrospective study between 01/01/04 and 12/31/08. Clinical features, treatment and evolution were analysed. RESULTS: There were 15 hospitalised children. All had regional lymphadenitis, 8 had prolonged fever; 13 had liver and/or splenic involvement. No patient died or had sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to search for this aetiology in children with prolonged fever and lymphadenitis. Abdominal ultrasound is an important diagnostic step.