It’s important to know the difference between bacterial and viral infections. Viral infections include the common cold, flu, most coughs and bronchitis, chickenpox and HIV/AIDS. Bacterial infections include TB, pneumonia, strep throat, and urinary tract infections.
Bacterial and viral infections have many things in common:
1. They are microbes too small to be seen
2. They can cause acute infections or chronic infections
3. Both cause mild, moderate, or severe disease
4. Both have similar symptoms such as fever, cough, diarrhea, fatigue, and vomiting
Both are spread by:
1. Coughing and sneezing
2. Contaminated surfaces, food, and water
3. Contaminated creatures such as pets, livestock, fleas, and ticks
However bacterial and viral infections also have these important differences:
1. Most bacteria are friendly and will not cause harm. We need bacteria in our system to stay healthy. Viruses always cause illness.
2. Bacterial infections can be treated with anti-biotics. Viral infections cannot!
Viruses and bacteria are tricky. Not only can they cause similar symptoms but many illnesses—like pneumonia, meningitis and diarrhea—can be caused by either a virus or a bacteria. Your doctor will need to run tests, such as a throat culture, urinary test, a CBC blood test to determine if an illness is viral or bacterial. EMA Care advises that any sore throat, with or without a fever and not accompanied by a cold needs to be checked for strep throat.
Many people get frustrated because a viral infection can take as long as 2 weeks to leave your system. They think “if only the doctor would give me anti-biotics”. However, taking anti- biotics for a virus is a big mistake. Not only will it not make a viral infection go away, it is bad for your body’s defense system. Viruses do go away on their own. A prolonged virus such as the flu can lead to a bacterial infection like pneumonia.
EMA Care wishes you a healthy winter. If a fever or cough persists for more than 3 days see your doctor! Let the doctor make the decision if you need further testing to determine if your illness is a bacterial or viral infection.