Cat-scratch disease was first postulated as an infectious granuloma, possibly tularemia, in 1932, when Debré and Foshay independently described this condition.1 In 1947, Debré enhanced accuracy of diagnosis with a skin test utilizing an antigen prepared by Foshay. It was not until 1950, however, that cat-scratch disease was formally recognized as an entity, when Debré reported the first known case.2 Since 1950, over 200 cases have been described in various parts of the world.
The classical clinical picture is an initial skin lesion with regional adenopathy; however, mesenteric lymphadenitis, thrombocytopenic purpura, pulmonary infiltration, and erythema-nodosum-like lesions have occurred as rare complications.3,4 An associated encephalopathy was first recorded by Stevens,5 in 1952, and since this time, 14 cases of cat-scratch disease with neurologic symptoms have been reported. It is the purpose of this presentation to describe the findings in a child with cat-scratch disease who exhibited evidence