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Pet owner scratched by his cat; Here’s what really happened

Pet owner scratched by his cat; Here’s what really happened

Pet owner scratched by his cat; Here's what really happened

Dmitry Ukhin, a 55-year-old resident of Russia, died after being scratched by a cat; at his home in the Leningrad Oblast of Russia due to severe blood loss. Dmitry, who lived in Leningrad’s Kirishi district, suffered from diabetes and poor blood clotting, was injured so seriously by a cat that he died from blood loss in his home.

Fatal event:

Dmitry found his kitten Styopka and brought him home to the Kyrgyzstan region on November 22, after the animal had escaped two days earlier. Disaster struck when the owner and his orange cat returned inside. That evening, a rabid cat scratched Dmitry’s leg, causing him to bleed. Dmitry, who is diabetic, was unable to stop his blood loss due to his body’s poor ability to form clots.
This disaster worsened because Dmitry was home alone. Dmitry’s wife was away, so he called a neighbor and told him that he was seriously injured and couldn’t stop the bleeding. He also managed to call doctors when the bleeding did not stop. A local police officer confirmed that the extent of Dmitry’s injuries meant he died before paramedics arrived. According to the policeman, at around 11 p.m. the man called 112 and reported that his friend was bleeding from his leg due to a torn vein. His neighbor said they gave Dmitry first aid, but it took a long time for medics to arrive.
According to an anonymous neighbor who provided first aid to the man, it took a long time for the medical team to arrive, and the deceased’s wife confirmed this information to local media. Natalia, the wife of the late Dmitry, said that their cat Styopka liked to walk alone, was nice and harmless.
The fate of the killer cat is not yet clear as forensic experts have not yet confirmed the cause of death of the animal’s owner. However, it is clear that the cat’s owner suffered from diabetes and poor blood clotting, apparently caused by high blood pressure.
People who parent and care for cats at home are concerned about the mortality rate of this event. So the question arises – are cat scratches so deadly?

Cat scratches (1)

The short answer is yes. Though cat scratch disease in rare cases it can be fatal, but usually is not:
Patients with normal immunity: Cat scratch disease (CSD) is not usually fatal for people with healthy immune systems. Most patients make a full recovery without any long-term effects.
Immunocompromised patients: CSD can be life-threatening in people with weakened immune systems. If left untreated, the infection can spread to internal organs and result in death. However, with proper treatment and management of complications, most patients with weakened immune systems recover fully.
Kids: Children under six years of age are most at risk of developing CSD. One episode of CSD usually provides children and adolescents with lifelong immunity.
Other high-risk groups: People with cancer, diabetes, HIV, AIDS, or organ transplants are at increased risk of serious illness from CSD. Pregnant women are also at greater risk.
Symptoms of CSD include a red, painless lump at the site of the scratch, fever, headache, loss of appetite, or swollen lymph nodes.
To prevent complications from cat scratches, you can wash any wounds, avoid feral animals, and follow recommended vaccinations for your cat.

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