Signs of viral and bacterial infections. Bacterial infection - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Bronchitis can be called a leader among respiratory diseases. This diagnosis is made when the lining of the bronchi is inflamed and the patient has symptoms such as coughing and sputum production. Bronchitis is especially common in regions with a cold and humid climate, where there are sharp changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Most often, the development of the disease is due to the penetration of viruses into the body (for example, the influenza virus, rhinovirus) or bacteria (pneumococci, streptococci, and others). To recover faster and avoid complications, you need to find out whether it is a bacterial or viral infection.

The bacterial form of bronchitis is much less common than the viral form. Infectious lesions of the bronchi can cause several types of bacteria:

• corynbacteria;
• hemophilic bacillus;
• moraxella;
• meningococci;
• pneumococci;
• chlamydia;
• mycoplasmas;
• streptococci.

The vital activity of these organisms causes significant disruption of the respiratory organs, so it is important to start therapy with antibacterial drugs (antibiotics) as soon as possible.

How is bacterial bronchitis different from viral bronchitis?

To begin with, let's figure out whether there is a viral bronchitis at all? The answer is yes, it happens. But on how to distinguish these two forms, read on.

A bacterial infection can be distinguished from a viral one by a longer incubation period.- from two days to two weeks.

To determine the moment of infection, it is worth considering not only the last contact with sick people, but also recent states of severe fatigue, nervous strain, and hypothermia.

Most microbes live in the human body for months and years without causing any trouble. A sharp decrease in immunity as a result of a nervous shock or hypothermia awakens their activity. In addition, a bacterial infection tends to join a viral one.

Doctors prefer not to waste time figuring out whether the disease is viral or not and suggest antibiotic treatment. This is because the side effects of antibiotic therapy are easier to manage than complications such as meningitis or pneumonia. And yet it is worth knowing the difference between bacterial bronchitis and viral bronchitis, since with a viral form, antibacterial agents will be useless.

Important! The doctor must prescribe antibiotics. Of course, you can evaluate how the correct treatment is prescribed for you, but this is not a reason to choose antibacterial drugs on your own.

How can you tell if you have viral or bacterial bronchitis?

Initially, the disease is almost never bacterial.

A viral form begins with a high fever, runny nose, cough, and only then, in case of inappropriate treatment or on the basis of reduced immunity, a bacterial form occurs. We can say that this is a complication of viral bronchitis.

Usually immunity to the virus is formed within three to five days. If by the fifth day of the disease there was no improvement, it means that bacteria took part in the inflammatory process.

With bacterial bronchitis, the patient suffers from a severe cough with phlegm, while he does not have symptoms such as a runny nose and inflammation of the eyes. The temperature lasts for a long time, more than three to five days, but it does not exceed 37.5 degrees.

Signs of viral bronchitis

The spectrum of viruses that cause bronchitis includes more than two hundred varieties. Most often these are influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, rotaviruses and others.

It begins with a deterioration in well-being, decreased appetite, fever, muscle pain. The main symptom of bronchitis is coughing. It occurs due to irritation of the receptors of the bronchial mucosa as a result of inflammation. The type of cough depends on the causative agent of the disease and the degree of damage to the bronchi.

Most often, the disease begins with a dry cough, then sputum appears, breathing becomes wheezing and gurgling.

If the infection has covered not only the bronchi, but also the larynx, a barking cough appears. Sputum is initially secreted in small quantities or is completely absent.

Its quantity increases every day, and in the second week of illness it can change its color to greenish. The appearance of purulent or mucopurulent sputum is an alarming symptom indicating the addition of a bacterial infection.

With simple bronchitis, wheezing is heard from the respiratory tract: wet or dry. Their character may change. The disease is usually not severe. The body temperature returns to normal in a few days, the symptoms of intoxication are eliminated, and the swelling of the nasopharynx disappears.

It will take two to three weeks for the sputum to disappear, during which time the cough may continue. Sometimes bronchitis drags on for three to four weeks, this may be due to the addition of a bacterial infection.

Attention! When cough treatment does not bring results for a month or more, this is a sign that bronchitis has given a complication. It makes sense to conduct a study of the chest x-ray.

All respiratory viral infections are short incubation period, from one to five days. This time is enough for the virus to multiply to such an amount that will cause a cough, runny nose, fever.

Bronchitis viral or bacterial - what's the difference?

Why is it so important to distinguish bacterial from viral bronchitis? The problem is that the viruses that cause most acute respiratory diseases do not respond to antibiotic therapy. In addition, in some cases, antibiotics can be harmful.

To determine the type of bronchitis, you need to assess the patient's condition on the eve of the disease. It is important to remember how often a person has been ill lately, where he has been for several days before the symptoms of the disease appeared, whether one of his friends, colleagues or relatives is sick.

Think about when you visited a team that has sick people. If less than five days have elapsed from this point to the onset of symptoms, you most likely have a viral infection. However, this symptom alone is not enough to make a diagnosis.

Differences of viral diseases:

• short incubation period (1-5 days);
• malaise begins with acute and pronounced symptoms (runny nose, cough, fever);
• within 3-5 days the condition gradually improves;

Important! ARVI begins immediately with acute symptoms: body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, chills, headache, sore throat, runny nose, cough occur.

The whole complex of symptoms may not be, sometimes a viral infection causes only an inflammatory process in the nasopharynx. A stuffy nose and a runny nose, reddened and watery eyes are the bright hallmarks of a viral infection.

Features of bacterial bronchitis:

• begins as a complication of the viral form of the disease;
• the disease is of a protracted nature;
• high temperature lasts more than 2-3 days;
• cough and sore throat in the absence of a runny nose.

Attention! With bacterial bronchitis, a runny nose and inflammation of the eyes are absent, but the temperature can last for a long time - a week or more. A bacterial infection is usually "dragged" behind a viral one. This moment can be seen by the deterioration of the condition 3-5 days after the onset of the acute period of the disease.

The unreasonable use of antibiotics for viral bronchitis is not only useless, but also fraught with side effects. The most common of these is bowel dysfunction. In addition, the abuse of antibiotics contributes to the emergence of resistant strains of microbes.

Bronchitis is a viral or bacterial disease - which tests will answer exactly?

To determine the type of bronchitis, the following types of diagnostics are used:

• general blood analysis;
• sputum culture.

A general blood test for bronchitis shows a high content of leukocytes. This indicates an inflammatory process in the body. ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is also elevated due to inflammation. C-reactive protein, which performs a protective function, can also be elevated in bronchitis.

Sputum analysis is needed to determine if antibiotic treatment is appropriate. A small amount of mucus is placed in a special nutrient medium in which there is an intensive growth of microorganisms. Then their reaction to antibacterial drugs is checked. This analysis helps to diagnose "bacterial bronchitis" and choose the most effective antibiotic.

Now you know how to identify the type of bronchitis. This will help you draw conclusions about how adequate diagnostic and treatment methods your doctor has suggested. However, do not self-medicate. If you have any doubts about the competence of a doctor, it is better to consult another specialist.

Detailed article about . Here you will find additional information regarding treatment options.

Read about others and how to treat it in our section.

One of the most common forms of bronchitis is. Read all about this form of the disease in our section.

Useful video

Find out what types of bronchitis are and what factors contribute to the occurrence of infection from the video below:

The most basic step in any diagnosis is to identify the focus or cause of the disease. This plays a big role in the further elimination of the disease. There is a similarity in the appearance of a disease of viral or bacterial origin. But it should be noted that there are some differences that make it possible to determine the etiology. In order to conduct a differential diagnosis, it is enough to take blood for a laboratory test. Practically in any hospital, you can take a blood test and determine a viral or bacterial disease in a person.

How to identify a viral or bacterial infection?

Differences between bacteria and viruses

To understand the difference between an infection of bacterial and infectious origin, it is not necessary to be a physician. You just need to carefully study these varieties. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms. The nucleus may not be present in the cell, or may be unformed.

So, depending on the species, bacteria can be:

• Coccal origin (streptococci, staphylococci, etc.). These bacteria are round.
• In the form of sticks (dysentery and the like). Long stretched forms.
• Bacteria of other sizes, which are relatively rare.

You should always know that a large number of these representatives are present in the human body or organs throughout life. If a person's immune system does not suffer and functions sufficiently, then no bacterium poses a danger. But as soon as a decrease in the level of human immunity is observed, then any bacteria can threaten the body. A person begins to feel bad and fall ill with various ailments.

But the cell also does not sleep, as soon as the process of virus reproduction occurs, the body acquires a protective state. Based on this, the human body begins to fight, due to immunity. The defense mechanism is triggered, which is a fundamental factor to resist foreign intrusion.

Unlike bacteria, viruses do not last long, until the body completely destroys them. But according to the classification of viruses, there are a small number of viruses that are never excreted from the body. They can live throughout life, and become more active in case of weakened immunity. They are not stopped by any drugs, and most importantly, their immunity is not a threat. Such representatives are the herpes simplex virus, human immunodeficiency virus and others.

Deciphering a blood test for a virus

To determine, on the basis of the study, a disease of viral or bacterial origin, no special professionals in the field of medicine are needed. Even an ordinary person can determine for himself, on the basis of analysis.

In order to determine the cause of the appearance of the disease, it is enough to analyze each column with special attention.

For a detailed consideration of the pathological changes in viruses, it is necessary to know certain indicators:

1. A slight decrease in the level of leukocytes, or no fluctuations.
2. Moderate increase in the number of lymphocytes.
3. Raised level.
4. A sharp decrease in neutrophils.

Deciphering the analysis

If the analysis shows that a person is sick, due to the penetration of the virus into the body, it is still necessary to study the clinical manifestations. To make a differential diagnosis by symptoms, the virus has a rather short incubation period. The duration is up to 5-6 days, which is not typical for bacteria.

As soon as a person becomes ill, it is necessary to determine the viral or bacterial infection.

Deciphering a blood test for a bacterium

As for bacteria, there are some difficulties. Sometimes blood tests and clinical manifestations can be slightly inaccurate. But in most cases, laboratory research gives us a positive answer. Basic indicators:

1. In 90%, an increased level of leukocytes.
2. Elevated levels of neutrophils (neutrophilia).
3. Moderate decrease in lymphocytes.
4. A sharp jump in the level of ESR.
5. Identification of special cells - myelocytes.

As mentioned above, the incubation period of bacteria is relatively longer than that of viruses. Usually up to two weeks.

You should also always be aware that bacteria in the human body can be activated due to viruses. After all, when a virus appears in the human body, immunity decreases and the bacterial flora gradually begins to affect the body.

It is quite easy to determine a viral or bacterial infection by a blood test. According to the results, it is possible to say with certainty why the disease appeared. You must always remember that it is not always possible to cope with the disease yourself, so you need to consult a doctor and be treated based on his recommendations.

A person is most susceptible to various colds in the autumn and spring. Viral infectious diseases - a type of disease that causes an infection that has penetrated into a weakened body. They can show up in an acute form or sluggish, but treatment should be carried out in both cases, so as not to aggravate the situation, to avoid dangerous complications. A person on average gets sick from 2 to 3 times a year with catarrhal pathologies, but the disease always develops due to viral DNA.

Types of viruses

Different types of bacteria can cause symptoms of pathology, which differ in the place of localization, the rate of development, and signs. Human viruses have a special classification, conventionally they are divided into rapid and slow. The second option is very dangerous because the symptoms are very weak and it is not possible to immediately detect the problem. This gives her time to multiply, to strengthen. Among the main types of viruses, the following groups are distinguished:

1. Orthomyxoviruses all influenza viruses.
2. adenoviruses and rhinoviruses. They provoke SARS - an acute respiratory viral infection that affects the respiratory system. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, can cause complications (bronchitis, pneumonia)
3. Herpesviruses- Herpes viruses, which can live asymptomatically for a long time in the body, are activated immediately after the immune system is weakened.
4. Meningitis. It provokes meningococcal infection, the brain mucosa is damaged, the virus feeds on cerebrospinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid).
5. Encephalitis- affects the membrane of the brain, provokes irreversible disturbances in the work of the central nervous system.
6. parvovirus which is the causative agent of poliomyelitis. A very dangerous disease that can cause convulsions, inflammation of the spinal cord, paralysis.
7. picornaviruses- causative agents of viral hepatitis.
8. Orthomyxoviruses- cause mumps, measles, parainfluenza.
9. Rotavirus- cause enteritis, intestinal flu, gastroenteritis.
10. rhabdoviruses- causative agents of rabies.
11. Papoviruses Cause of human papillomatosis.
12. Retroviruses- the causative agents of AIDS, first develops HIV, and then AIDS.

List of human viral diseases

Medicine knows a huge number of contagious viruses and infections that can provoke various diseases in the human body. Below are only the main groups of diseases that are likely to be encountered:

1. One of the largest groups of viral diseases - influenza (A, B, C), different types of colds that cause inflammation in the body, high fever, general weakness and sore throat. Therapy is carried out with the help of restorative agents, antiviral drugs, if necessary, antibacterial drugs are prescribed.

   Complex remedies help to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of influenza and SARS, maintain efficiency, but often contain phenylephrine, a substance that increases blood pressure, which gives a feeling of cheerfulness, but can cause side effects from the cardiovascular system. Therefore, in some cases it is better to choose a drug without components of this kind, for example, AntiGrippin from Natur Product, which helps to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of influenza and SARS without provoking an increase in pressure.

   There are contraindications. It is necessary to consult with a specialist.

2. Rubella. A common childhood pathology, less common in adults. Symptoms include damage to the membranes of the respiratory tract, skin. eyes, lymph nodes. The virus is transmitted by droplets, always accompanied by high fever, skin rashes.
3. Piggy. A dangerous viral disease affecting the respiratory tract, the salivary glands are severely affected. Rarely found in adult men, testes are affected by this virus.
4. Measles- often found in children, the disease affects the skin, respiratory tract, intestines. It is transmitted by airborne droplets, the causative agent is paramyxovirus.
5. Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis). Pathology affects the respiratory tract, intestines, then penetrates into the blood. Next, the motor neurons are damaged, which leads to paralysis. The virus is transmitted by droplets, sometimes a child can become infected through stool. In some cases, insects act as carriers.
6. Syphilis. This disease is sexually transmitted, it affects the genitals. Then it affects the eyes, internal organs and joints, heart, liver. Antibacterial agents are used for treatment, but it is very important to determine the presence of pathology immediately, because it may not cause symptoms for a long time.
7. Typhoid. It is rare, characterized by a rash on the skin, damage to blood vessels, which leads to the formation of blood clots.
8. Pharyngitis. The disease provokes a virus that enters the human body along with dust. Cold air, streptococci, staphylococci can also provoke the development of pathology. Accompanied by a viral disease fever, cough, sore throat.
9. Angina- a common viral pathology, which has several subspecies: catarrhal, follicular, lacunar, phlegmonous.
10. Whooping cough. This viral disease is characterized by damage to the upper respiratory tract, swelling of the larynx is formed, severe coughing attacks are observed.

The most rare human viral diseases

Most viral pathologies are contagious diseases that are transmitted sexually, by airborne droplets. There are a number of diseases that are extremely rare:

1. Tularemia. Pathology in its symptoms strongly resembles the plague. Infection occurs after Francisella tularensis enters the body - this is an infectious bacillus. As a rule, it enters along with the air or when bitten by a mosquito. The disease is also transmitted from a sick person.
2. Cholera. This disease is very rare in modern medical practice. Vibrio cholerae virus, which enters the body through dirty water, contaminated food, causes symptoms of pathology. The last outbreak of pathology was recorded in 2010 in Haiti, the disease claimed the lives of more than 4,500 people.
3. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. A very dangerous pathology that is transmitted through the meat of infected animals. The causative agent is considered to be a prion - a special protein that begins to actively destroy body cells after penetration. The insidiousness of the pathology lies in the absence of symptoms, a personality disorder begins in a person, severe irritation and dementia appear. It is impossible to cure the disease and the person dies within a year.

Virus Symptoms

Symptoms do not always appear immediately, some types of viral diseases can occur for a long time without obvious signs, which becomes a problem with further treatment. Each infectious disease goes through the following stages:

• incubation period;
• premonitory;
• the height of pathology;
• recovery.

The duration of the first stage always depends on the specific type of virus and can last from 2-3 hours to six months. Symptoms will differ depending on the developing disease, but, as a rule, the following manifestations are among the common symptoms of viral pathologies:

• soreness, muscle weakness;
• slight chills;
• persistent body temperature;
• sensitivity of the skin when touched;
• cough, sore throat, watery eyes;
• dysfunction of some organs;
• swollen lymph nodes.

Temperature during a viral infection

This is one of the main reactions of the body to the penetration of any pathogen. Temperature is a defense mechanism that activates all other immune functions to fight viruses. Most diseases occur with a high body temperature. Viral pathologies that provoke this symptom include:

• flu;
• SARS;
• tick-borne encephalitis;
• childhood diseases: chicken pox, infectious parotitis, rubella, measles;
• polio;
• Infectious mononucleosis.

Often there are cases of the development of diseases, in which the temperature does not rise. The main symptoms are watery compartments with a runny nose, sore throat. The absence of temperature is due to the insufficient activity of the virus or the immunity is strong, therefore, it does not fully use all possible methods of fighting the infection. If the growth has begun, then high rates are kept, as a rule, for about 5 days.

signs

Most viruses provoke the development of acute respiratory pathologies. There is some difficulty in identifying diseases that were caused by bacteria, because the treatment regimen in this case will be very different. There are more than 20 varieties of viruses that cause SARS, but their main symptoms are similar. The primary symptoms include the following:

• rhinitis (runny nose), cough with clear mucus;
• low temperature (up to 37.5 degrees) or fever;
• general weakness, headaches, poor appetite.

How to distinguish a cold from a virus

There is a difference between these two concepts. A cold occurs when you stay in the cold for a long time, severe hypothermia of the body, which leads to a weakening of the immune system and the appearance of an inflammatory process. This is not the name of the disease, but only the cause of the development of other pathologies. Viral pathology often becomes a consequence of a cold, because the body does not have enough defenses to resist the pathogen.

Virus Diagnostics

When contacting a doctor, he should conduct a visual examination and collect an anamnesis. Usually. viral diseases are accompanied by fever, cough, runny nose, but after 3-4 days a person feels better. Specialists can determine the type of disease by general symptoms or based on seasonal outbreaks of diseases, for example, influenza epidemics often begin in winter, and SARS in autumn. Determination of the exact type of virus will be required for specific treatment (HIV, syphilis, etc.). For this, a virological study is used.

This method in medicine is the "gold standard", which is carried out in a special laboratory. As a rule, such methods are used during epidemic outbreaks of viral infectious diseases. Methods of immunodiagnostics (immunoindication, serodiagnosis) have found wide distribution for diagnosing pathogens. They are implemented through a variety of immune responses:

• enzyme immunoassay (ELISA);
• radioisotope immunoassay (RIA);
• hemagglutination inhibition reaction;
• complement fixation reaction;
• immunofluorescence reaction.

Treatment of viral diseases

The course of therapy is depending on the type of pathogens. For example, if it is necessary to treat SARS, childhood viral pathologies (mumps, rubella, measles, etc.), then all medicines are used to eliminate symptoms. Subject to bed rest, diet, the body itself copes with the disease. Treatment of viruses is carried out in cases where they cause tangible discomfort to a person. Apply for example:

• antipyretics if the temperature is above 37.5 degrees;
• vasoconstrictor drops are used to relieve swelling of the nose;
• in rare cases, antibiotics (if a bacterial infection has joined);
• NSAIDs that relieve pain and lower the temperature, for example, aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen.

During treatment, doctors recommend drinking more fluids to combat intoxication of the body, moderate nutrition, bed rest and humidity in the room at least 50% where the patient is located. Therapy for influenza is no different, but the doctor must definitely monitor the patient, because this disease can cause serious consequences. One of them is pneumonia, which can lead to pulmonary edema and death.

If such complications have begun, then treatment must be carried out in a hospital with the use of special medications (Zanamivir, Oseltamivir). When diagnosing the human papillomavirus, the therapy consists in maintaining immunity in good shape, surgical removal of warts, genital warts. In cases of severe viral pathologies. For example, HIV requires a course of antiretroviral drugs. It cannot be eliminated completely, but it can be kept under control and prevent the spread of the disease.

When genital herpes is infected, it is necessary to take special preparations, their maximum effectiveness is confirmed in the first 48 hours. If you use the funds later, their medicinal effect is significantly reduced and the course of treatment can last from several weeks to several months. Herpes on the lips should be treated with local remedies (ointments, gels), but even without them, the wound heals within a week.

Antivirals

In medicine, there is a certain number of medicines of this group, which have proven their effectiveness and are used constantly. The entire list of drugs is conditionally divided into two types:

1. Medicines that stimulate the human immune system.
2. Means that attack the detected virus are direct-acting drugs.

The first group refers to broad-spectrum agents, but their use leads to serious complications. One example of such drugs is interferons and the most popular of these is interferon alfa-2b. It is prescribed for the treatment of chronic forms of Hepatitis B, and was previously prescribed for hepatitis C. Patients had a hard time tolerating such therapy, which led to side effects from the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system. In some cases, pyrogenic properties are manifested - they cause fever.

The second type of PPD medications is more effective and easier to tolerate by patients. Among the popular drugs, the following treatment options are distinguished:

1. Herpes- acyclovir. Helps to overcome the symptoms of the disease, but does not kill it completely.
2. Flu Influenza neuraminidase inhibitors (Zanamivir, Oseltamivir). Current influenza strains have developed resistance to previous drugs (adamantanes) and are not effective. Name of drugs: Relenza, Ingavirin, Tamiflu.
3. Hepatitis. For the treatment of group B viruses, interferons are used together with Ribavirin. For hepatitis C, a new generation of drugs is used - Simeprevir. Its effectiveness reaches 80-91% of a persistent virological response.
4. HIV. It cannot be completely cured, antiretroviral drugs provide a lasting effect, cause remission, and a person cannot infect others. The therapy continues throughout life.

Prevention

Preventive measures may vary slightly depending on the type of virus. For example, to prevent infection with hepatitis or HIV, it is necessary to protect yourself during sexual intercourse. There are two main areas of prevention of viral diseases:

1. Specific. It is carried out to develop specific immunity in humans through vaccination. A person is injected with a weakened strain of the virus so that the body develops antibodies to it. This will help protect you from measles, influenza, polio, hepatitis (liver disease). Most life-threatening diseases can be prevented with vaccines.
2. Nonspecific. Strengthening the immune defense of a person, a healthy lifestyle, physical activity and normal nutrition. A person must follow the rules of hygiene, which will protect him from intestinal infections, be protected during sexual intercourse in order to prevent HIV infection.

Video

If a child gets sick, it is very important to distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial one in time, because they require a different approach to treatment and mistakes in therapy can be expensive. The final diagnosis, of course, remains with the doctor, but parents must have at least basic knowledge in order to be able to provide the child with first aid in time. How to distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial one, we will tell in this material.

Main differences

The main difference between a viral illness and a bacterial one lies in the causative agent of the disease itself. Viral diseases are caused by viruses, bacterial diseases are caused by bacteria. With regard to childhood diseases, especially during the cold season, the most common are viral illnesses - influenza, SARS. The well-known pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky claims that 95% of all cases of childhood morbidity with respiratory and general manifestations (runny nose, cough, fever) are exclusively of viral origin.

• Viruses cannot exist anywhere and anyhow, they are quite capricious in choosing a location. Usually, each of the viral infections has its own localization, its own place of replication of the pathogen virus. With influenza, the corresponding virus at the first stage affects only the cells of the ciliated epithelium of the upper respiratory tract, with hepatitis - only liver cells, with rotavirus infection, the pathogen is activated exclusively in the small intestine.
• Bacteria are less whimsical. They begin to multiply where there is already a lesion. When cut, the wound begins to fester, when bacteria enter the larynx, if the integrity of the mucous membranes is broken, severe purulent inflammation of the pharynx and larynx begins, for example, with bacterial tonsillitis. The bacterium can spread throughout the body, "settling" where local immunity is reduced.

Knowing the difference and being able to distinguish one from the other is necessary in order to properly approach the care and treatment of a child. Viral diseases should never, under any circumstances, be treated with antibiotics. Antibacterial drugs are not effective against viruses and only increase the likelihood of severe complications.

To treat a viral infection, there are drugs - antiviral, immunostimulating. And with a bacterial infection, it is impossible to do without antibiotics.

Symptom difference

In order to understand how a viral illness differs from a bacterial one, parents need to carefully observe their child. The difference is noticeable from the very beginning.

• Most viral diseases have an acute onset.- the baby's temperature rises to high levels (38.0-40.0 degrees), he suddenly becomes ill. With influenza, the nose usually remains dry, with other SARS, one of the first signs is liquid nasal mucus. This condition is said to be “running from the nose”.

• Bacterial runny nose (rhinitis) differs in color, texture and smell. Snot with such a runny nose have a thick consistency, green or dark yellow color, sometimes with blood streaks, an unpleasant smell of pus. The onset of a bacterial disease is not sharp and sharp. Usually the temperature does not rise immediately, but gradually, however, it can gradually reach high values, but more often it is subfebrile for a long time, and the state of health also gradually worsens.
• With a viral infection, the general condition is disturbed literally from the first hours of the disease. There are signs of intoxication, muscle and joint pain, severe headache, sometimes nausea and vomiting against the background of high temperature. With a bacterial disease, the discomfort zone is usually localized quite clearly. If the bacteria hit the throat - there is a sore throat, if it gets into the eyes - conjunctivitis, if the lungs - pneumonia. The bacteria can cause meningitis, severe bronchitis.
• The incubation period is also different.. Viral infections develop in the body after infection in a few hours or a couple of days, and bacteria need about 10 days or two weeks to “settle in”, multiply in sufficient numbers and begin to release a large amount of toxins.

• Almost any viral "sore" passes on its own in 3-6 days in the absence of complications.. With bacterial ailments, you will have to “tinker”, without a course (or even several courses) of antibiotics, you usually can’t do it, recovery is delayed.
• In the people, the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, influenza and bacterial rhinitis or tonsillitis are often called the single word "cold". This is wrong. A cold is nothing more than a weakening of the child's immunity, which became possible as a result of hypothermia of the body. A cold may well precede a viral or bacterial infection, but is not considered an independent disease. A cold can be distinguished from a virus or bacteria by the absence of fever, acute catarrhal symptoms.

The only reliable way to distinguish one from the other, and at the same time to find out which viruses or bacteria struck the child is laboratory diagnostics. An analysis of blood, urine, swabs from the throat and nose is an ample basis for the laboratory determination of either viral particles and antibodies, or specific bacteria in them.

Learn more about the difference between a viral infection and a bacterial one.

comment 51 to the note "Differences between viral and bacterial infections"

Thank you very much for such a detailed answer. 😉

Usually the virus attacks first, and then the bacterial infection joins. Now the virus is sharpening me ... 😥 ARVI is called ...

There is an opinion that a bacterial infection can be recognized by the speed of the course of the disease - if the temperature stays for more than 37 for several days, and then rises - this is a virus. If immediately a sharp rise in temperature, often because of this with convulsions, then there was initially a bacterial infection. It would be interesting to know how reliable this is.

Temperature is a very non-specific symptom. For example, a high temperature up to 39-40 ° can be with kidney cancer. Therefore, in the general case, viral and bacterial infections cannot be distinguished by temperature.

Nevertheless, I do not rule out that for specific nosological forms, according to temperature and its dynamics, one can draw a conclusion about the alleged pathogen.

my daughter (she is 2.6 years old) had a temperature of 38.4 for 3 days and a red throat. The doctor has diagnosed a pharyngitis. Yesterday I gave her inhalations, today is the fourth day, she started having a runny nose and a wet cough. I don't understand what we had first a bacterial infection or a virus?

This is some kind of infection, but it is impossible to clearly say about the pathogen. Presumably viral.

Good afternoon
I have a cold once or twice a year. or how to call it correctly: there is no temperature, for several years now, after the tonsils were removed, on the contrary, it is lowered, and does not rise above 36.4. The throat starts to ache a little, then it turns into a cough, dry. I drink antibiotics and bromhexine, after a few days it passes. If antibiotics help, then it is probably a bacterial infection. This is true?

The lack of temperature is embarrassing, they say this means that the body is not fighting the infection.

Temperature during infection, when anti-inflammatory drugs are not taken, is absent in 2 cases:
1) the infection is not severe, and the body is able to cope with it without fever.
2) the immune system is severely suppressed (for example, by tumor treatment).

The effectiveness of antibiotics still does not say anything, because. a cold goes away without them. Antibiotics should be taken according to indications, and not at will.

Thanks, very informative and interesting. And what would you advise if the temperature is 37 with a tail for several weeks and there are no symptoms, only weakness. Where to start looking for a diagnosis? Complete blood count is normal. 😥

Temperature from 37.0 to 37.9 is called subfebrile. If it were above 38 degrees, such a state would be called " fever of unknown origin". This is a large separate topic to establish the cause of such a fever. Look for information on the Internet.

Hello!

Please tell me, but now I definitely have a bacterial infection, since the snot and cough are green, and the doctor had the same thing ... He prescribed antibiotics, is it worth taking them at all? Or can be limited to those drops in the nose and ears that the doctor attributed to antibiotics?

And I also wanted to ask, is the bacterial infection somehow transmitted to other family members? Thank you.

Accept. You should not joke with a cough, and a runny nose can easily be complicated by sinusitis (and it has its own complications). Moreover, for nothing you would hardly go to the doctor.

It is transmitted, but, as a rule, not everyone gets sick.

Thank you very much! It’s not that I didn’t trust my doctor, I just wanted to hear the opinion of an independent specialist.
Yes, you are 100% right, I go to the doctor when it’s already really bad ...
And thank you for the quick response and for the article, very useful and informative.

Hello! please tell me what can i do to heal?

for a year after the removal of the cyst in the maxillary sinus, I continue to suffer from colds. The diagnosis according to the analyzes is chronic tonsillitis, staphylococcus, streptococcus and cytomegalovirus were also found, the tamograph showed inflammation in the mucous membranes ... After a slight hypothermia, the inflammatory process immediately begins in the frontal sinuses of the nose. Help, because the doctors are already powerless!!! Now I drip my nose with miramistin, and then with staphylococcal bacteriophage, but so far without changes ...

Try drugs that stimulate local immunity in chronic tonsillitis (Imudon) and sinusitis (IRS-19).

Hello! My daughter is 9 months old, for two days the temperature is 39, she thought her teeth were coming, the doctor looked at her throat, it was red, but there was no pus, but he prescribed an antibiotic. Is it a bacterial infection? There are no other symptoms, only leukocytes in the urine are still elevated. After all, it can not be connected with the throat? Thank you!

The throat may be red and sore in both viral and bacterial infections. Taking into account the risk of streptococcal angina, age and high temperature, an antibiotic cannot be dispensed with. Streptococcus, in principle, is capable of causing complications to the kidneys, but not immediately. So now there is probably no connection between leukocytes in the urine and the throat.

You advise IRS, an excellent drug, I used it, but in Belarus (in Minsk) it is not available in pharmacies, they say it is not available. It's a pity. I get colds 4-5 times a year, on sick leave for 2 weeks “with a tail” - then laryngitis, then pharyngitis, then tonsillitis, then SARS. With endless nasal congestion (hr. vasomotor rhinitis), thanks to information from the Internet, I coped almost completely WITHOUT MEDICINES, at least a plot. The doctor recommended surgery. But almost constantly - colorless mucus, dry and deep cough at night, a lump "hangs" in the larynx. Is it a viral infection? I am treated with all sorts of rinses, nasal lavages, alkali-oil inhalations, I take propolis, herbal infusions, Vitrum, lozenges. All - with varying degrees of success, and so I would like to be healthy! 😉 Maybe try interferon or something. another, as an immunomodulator, what do you think?

IRS has not been sold in Belarus since last year. It seems like they didn’t renew the registration, this is a complicated procedure. But you can buy in neighboring countries.

As for dry and deep cough, it is necessary to be examined and establish the cause. Maybe environmental irritants, infection, allergies, autoimmune inflammation, tumor, finally.

Interferon is effective against viruses, but it is also produced by the body itself during infection.

Hello. I have chronic tonsillitis. Yesterday I had a sharp sore throat, I looked, and one tonsil was covered with pus and hurts, there is no temperature, there is weakness, in the morning I have a headache. I smear with chlorophyllipt, rinse. question: everywhere on the Internet it is written that it is necessary to treat with antibiotics, but maybe I can do without them? It's just that after antibiotics, it takes a very long time to restore the microflora. And if antibiotics are required, which ones?

Treatment of chronic tonsillitis:

1) Immunostimulating therapy: imudon (preferably), IRS-19.

2) Physiotherapy with laser and ultrasound on the apparatus "Tonsillor" (in the clinic).

3) As for antibiotics and problems with the flora, it is better to contact an ENT doctor. For hemolytic streptococcus, drugs of the penicillin group are usually used.

4) Also read here: sunhome.ru/journal/13718/p1

I take drastic measures: I squeeze the juice of a lemon onto cotton wool wrapped around a stick, and with a strong-willed movement with vomiting (but not vomiting), I wipe the tonsils. As a rule, the cork "pops" in the morning. Well, then - rinsing, rinsing with Lugol. And I also take propolis tincture (1 tsp per gram 20 of water) inside (almost like 100 g of alcohol -:), I try to drink a lot and be sure to take vitamins. And antibiotics, after all, are also different, it is necessary to select individually and always with the advice of a doctor. Get well!

Since all the same, doctors determine a viral infection or a bacterial one. after all the result of treatment depends on it? In my medical questionnaire it is written everywhere ARVI or ARVI with hr. tonsillitis and antibiotics are prescribed everywhere.

Is it correct to prescribe only antibiotics (without antiviral or immunostimulants) for a viral infection with an associated bacterial one?

Julia, usually by eye. With a viral infection, it is advisable to prescribe antiviral drugs. Although if not prescribed, the infection will pass naturally. Maybe just a little later.

I'll say more. Antibiotics are not needed for every bacterial infection. Often they are even harmful. Read: website/science/

In the West, with SARS, the patient is driven to the laboratory, where he pays for tests in cash or insurance, which are not and will not be in our country. Analyzes are expensive. We have some of them in private laboratories. Estimated cost 200-300 US dollars.

And so to the eye. There are criteria under which a bacterial infection can be suspected. They proceed from the principle of less - an antibiotic is a lesser evil than untreated streptococcal tonsillitis. Bacterial infection is very rare. Often an antibiotic is prescribed where needed and not needed.

A one-year-old child had a temperature of 38.8-39 for 2 days - a viral infection. on the 3rd day it fell to 37.5, and on the 4th it jumped to 39.5. They called a doctor who immediately prescribed antibiotics, saying that with these symptoms it was no longer a virus, but a bacterial infection had joined. Does such a jump in temperature indicate a bacterial infection? In addition to the temperature, there were snot with a cough, but from the very beginning of the disease.

Yes, such a sudden and sharp rise in temperature may indicate the addition of a bacterial infection.

Do I need to take a complete blood count to reliably confirm a bacterial infection?

A complete blood count does NOT provide reliable confirmation, only indirect. In immunology, an accurate confirmation of infection is an increase in the titer (concentration) of antibodies to the alleged pathogen by 4 or more times. 2 blood samples are taken - at the height of the disease and after recovery (not earlier than 2 weeks after the first sample). Unfortunately, this method can reliably determine the pathogen too late.

Tell me, please, does it make sense to use interferon-containing or immunomodulatory drugs in any case? They probably won't do any harm. After all, while the diagnosis has not been established, and judging by the comments, it can be installed incorrectly, immunomodulators can play a big role. And yet, sorry for the stupid question, interferon fights viruses, of course, but the immunomodulatory action does not imply an increase in the activity of the immune system as a whole? Logically, the stronger the immune system, the more toothy the bacteria should be, right?

Does it make sense to use interferon-containing or immunomodulatory drugs in any case?

I think no. The body can handle itself.

immunomodulatory action does not imply an increase in the activity of the immune system as a whole?

Usually assumes, because everything is interconnected there.

Logically, the stronger the immune system, the more toothy the bacteria should be.

No. Bacteria have their own lives. But if the immune system is weak, they have more opportunities for reproduction and development.

To be honest, I don't know. There are research results on the Internet about the effectiveness of amixin in influenza and herpes, but they cannot be considered ideal in terms of evidence. Therefore, if amixin helps you personally and there are no contraindications, then you can take it.

For influenza and colds, antiviral treatment should be applied within the first 48 hours of the onset of the disease, later it ceases to be effective.

In influenza, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), as well as rimantadine, have proven efficacy (and often side effects). In other forms of the common cold, ribavirin and interferon inducers (arbidol, amixin, amizon, groprinosin) can be effective (because there is not enough evidence in clinical trials). More about viruses and treatment: website/info/729

For other viral infections (HIV, viral hepatitis, etc.), different antiviral drugs are used in long-term courses (several weeks and months).

Hello, what do you think about bioparox? I didn’t see a word about him, because this is a drug for the treatment of acute respiratory infections of any etiology !!!

Bioparox- an aerosol for topical use (inhalation), which contains the antibiotic fusafungin (fusafungin). Antibiotics do not act on viruses, so bioparox is useless in case of SARS.

Fuzafungin is not absorbed and acts on the mucous membranes only superficially, therefore, with deep bacterial processes in the respiratory tract (such as pneumonia) it is ineffective. It cannot be used for a long time (more than 10 days) because of the risk of developing dysbacteriosis on the mucous membranes.

Let me disagree with you a little. There is no pneumonia in the indications of bioparox, but if we consider, for example, with acute respiratory infections of viral etiology ... Bioparox has a dual mechanism of action, in addition to antibacterial, it also has an anti-inflammatory effect! Based on your article Viruses are compounds of protein and nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) that can reproduce only in the affected cell.". Accordingly, if we remove the inflammation, the virus will have nowhere to multiply. Those. Bioparox has not a direct effect on the virus, but an indirect one. Nevertheless, it is precisely by the double mechanism of action that we act on the main links.

Yes, Bioparox has an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the amount of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a; this is one of the substances that stimulate inflammation) and suppressing the synthesis of free radicals by macrophages. However, you do not understand the essence of the inflammatory response enough. ANY inflammation occurs as a result of tissue damage by any factors (viruses, bacteria, trauma, high or low temperature, oxygen starvation, etc.). Tissue damage is primary and inflammation is secondary. If we suppress inflammation with anti-inflammatory hormones (glucocorticoids), we create ideal conditions for the spread of viruses and bacteria throughout the body, because the inflammatory reaction prevents the infection from moving forward. The patient's condition will worsen.

Bioparox still cannot be used for any acute respiratory infections, as its antibacterial activity can lead to dysbacteriosis and the formation of resistant forms of bacteria. It is much safer to use, for example, a herbal preparation such as Sinupret, which thins mucus, reduces inflammation, restores protective properties and reduces swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, promotes the outflow of exudate from the paranasal sinuses, has immunomodulatory and antiviral activity and is not a direct antibacterial agent.

P.S. It is possible and necessary to suppress pathological (autoimmune, allergic) and excessive inflammation. In other cases, the suppression of the inflammatory response may be fraught with danger.

I had this question, why do viral diseases go away on their own, while bacterial diseases need to be “treated”?

Viruses are able to develop only inside the affected cell, while bacteria multiply on their own and therefore do more harm. But this is a theory.

Not all bacterial infections are also treated (meaning antibiotics), but only if:
1) the patient's immune system is weakened or underdeveloped;
2) the infection is life-threatening (meningitis, pneumonia, etc.) or a purulent complication has occurred (peritonsillar abscess, etc.);
3) there is a risk of serious long-term complications (for example, rheumatism or post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis).

Hello! A week ago, I felt very unwell, I decided that the flu was developing, I drank according to the amixin scheme, a day later the doctor prescribed a lot of blood tests, I donated blood during a period of severe exacerbation of the disease (flu symptoms), all the results are normal, only CRP is very high 53. Tell me about what can this say, and could contraception and taking Amiksin affect such an indicator?

C-reactive protein is an indicator of inflammation that occurs with any tissue damage or death, so an increase in CRP levels during a cold (i.e., a viral or bacterial infection) is absolutely normal.

Taking oral contraceptives and a number of other conditions (diabetes mellitus, uremia, hypertension, increased or low physical activity, sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, alcoholism, depression, hormone replacement therapy, third trimester of pregnancy, aging) can also lead to an increase in the level of C-reactive squirrel. More: medlab.kz/print/articles/1/6/

Amiksin is a stimulant for the formation of interferon (a natural regulator of the antiviral defense of the immune system), so I admit that it may have some effect on the level of C-reactive protein.

Taking amixin does not affect C-reactive protein in any way, it only impairs the functioning of the liver, kidneys and harms the retina. Naturally, it also does not help against a viral infection.

Did you save money on the flu shot?