A 23-YEAR-old man was left unable to get an erection after being scratched by a cat, doctors have revealed.

The unidentified patient, from Belgium, suffered erectile dysfunction due to an invasive cat scratch disease, according to BMJ Case Reports.

2 The unidentified Belgian patient was scratched by a cat in his own home (file photo) Credit: Getty - Contributor

It is caused by bacteria called Bartonella henselae found in the mouth and claws of cats.

Those coming into contact with the disease can suffer fevers, pustules with complications from the illness even becoming fatal.

The young man told doctors he suffered the general symptoms including pain in his testicles.

He later revealed he was injured by the claws of a cat in his own home after further consultation.

2 Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) is caught by kissing the furry friends or even touching their fur then touching your face Credit: AFP or licensors

The patient was successfully treated in three weeks after a course of antibiotics.

Doctors wrote in the report: "The symptoms quickly vanished and he fully regained his erectile function.

"In this case the patient was unable to provoke erection despite his will even during periods of calm symptoms."

Warnings have been released in the US with 12,000 Americans being diagnosed with the disease and suffering from fever, fatigue, headaches and swollen lymph nodes.

Five hundred of those required hospital attention, with some even suffering from brain swelling and heart infections.

What is Cat Scratch Disease? Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) is caught by kissing the furry friends or even touching their fur then touching your face - with kids most at risk of being infected. The disease is relatively rare and affects about 4.5 outpatient diagnoses per 100,000. Those coming into contact with the disease can suffer fevers, pustules with complications from the illness even becoming fatal. The bacteria, known as Bartonella henselae, is picked up by a cat from flea bites or droppings getting into their wounds. It is then spread when the cat licks a person's open wound or bites or scratches hard enough to break the surface of the skin. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headaches, and swollen lymph node. In extreme cases, some can suffer from brain swelling and heart infections.

Women and girls accounted for 62 per cent and 55.6 per cent respectively of the diagnoses.

Cat owners are being warned to think twice when they cuddle their cat - and to always wash their hands after hugs and kisses with their fuzzy friend.

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