Can a virus become bacterial? Signs and types of bacterial infection - diagnosis and treatment of diseases

Diseases caused by hypothermia of the body are popularly called “colds.” Their course is very similar to a viral infection.

However, there is a difference between these pathologies. And since the treatment for these diseases is different, the doctor must be able to distinguish one from the other.

Adequate diagnosis is also necessary because, under the guise of a common disease, a dangerous influenza virus may be hiding, the treatment of which requires mandatory medical intervention.

Otherwise, the disease may become more complicated and lead to more serious pathologies.

How to tell the difference between a cold and a viral infection

To learn to distinguish a cold from an acute respiratory viral infection (acute respiratory viral infection), you need to have a complete understanding of these diseases. Doctors with many years of experience are accustomed to calling any respiratory tract infection with the general term “ARD.”

Of course, this is not incorrect, but this concept does not at all indicate the type of pathogen that provoked the symptoms of the disease. The causative agents of seasonal infections are divided into two groups: bacteria and viruses. This is precisely the fundamental difference between these two diseases.

All viral infections are included in the ARVI group. These include:

Flu.
Parainfluenza.
RSV and their subtypes.
Rhinoviruses.
Adenoviruses.

Flu Virus Symptoms

The flu, which certainly breaks out every year with the onset of cold weather, is also a virus that affects the respiratory (respiratory) tract. But the flu can cause serious complications and is always very difficult.

All acute respiratory viral diseases have common characteristics. For pathology to occur, banal hypothermia or overeating ice cream is not enough. Infection usually occurs by airborne droplets from a sick person to a healthy person.

It is also possible for the infection to enter the body through everyday life, that is, through:

pieces of furniture;
toys;
dishes;
banknotes;
food.

But such influenza infection occurs much less frequently. But direct contact with a sick person, which can happen at work, on public transport, in a store, is most often the cause of influenza infection.

And respiratory tract viruses are very short. A person begins to feel unwell approximately 2-3 days after infection. Moreover, flu symptoms increase rapidly.

From the first signs to a sharp deterioration of the condition, it usually takes about two hours. This is due to the fact that once in a favorable environment, pathogenic microorganisms begin to actively multiply. At the same time, they affect the mucous epithelium of the upper respiratory tract, which provokes the corresponding symptoms:

watery discharge from the nasal passages;
sore throat;
dry cough;
increase in body temperature.

The severity of symptoms is directly proportional to the virulence of the infection. When you get the flu, the temperature may jump to 39-40 already on the first day. However, with a mild infection, the temperature may not rise. Most often, low-grade fever is observed.

The prodromal period of the disease, when the body has not yet responded to the virus, but the concentration of infection is already high, also causes a deterioration in health. An infected person has the following symptoms:

general malaise;
lethargy;
pain in the eyes and tearing;
nasal congestion in the absence of discharge from it;
loss of appetite.

The danger of a viral infection is that “on the heels” of a second wave a bacterial one can come. This is due to the fact that local immunity is weakened by the primary virus, that is, the path is open for pathogenic bacteria. They begin to activate on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

That is why situations arise in which a person seems to begin to recover, but after a while he again feels a deterioration in his health. However, if the treatment is formulated adequately, this does not happen.

In patients susceptible to allergies, a viral infection often provokes a hypersensitivity reaction, in which even ordinary food can cause an allergy.

ARVI, depending on the pathogen, leads to various diseases of the respiratory tract. A doctor can diagnose the following pathologies in a patient:

Pharyngitis.
Rhinitis.
Otitis.
Sinusitis.
Bronchitis.
Tracheitis.
Tonsillitis.
Laryngitis.

What is a cold and what are its symptoms?

To be able to distinguish a cold (ARI) from a viral infection (ARVI), you need to know the main symptoms of the first and the causes of its occurrence.

A cold is a consequence of hypothermia, which can be caused by:

freezing hands and feet;
when ignoring a hat during the cold season;
in wet weather;
in a draft;
when swimming in open water.

Under the influence of cold, a microbial inflammatory process begins to occur in the human respiratory tract. What are the main characteristics of diseases caused by hypothermia?

The causative agents of colds are:

streptococci;
Haemophilus influenzae.

These microorganisms are present on the mucous membranes of every person, but under appropriate conditions they are activated.

It is impossible to catch a cold, and only very weakened people and young children can “catch” a respiratory bacterial infection.

Under the influence of cold, the human immune system experiences stress and refuses to protect the body from the activation of opportunistic bacteria. Their reproduction leads to an infectious disease, which is accompanied by an inflammatory process.

Colds include the following diseases:

rhinitis;
pharyngitis;
sinusitis;
any sore throat.

Moreover, most often they occur in those patients who already have a chronic form of these pathologies.

Meanwhile, with a strong immune system and in the absence of provoking factors, minor hypothermia is unlikely to provoke the disease.

The incubation period of a bacterial infection is quite long (3-14 days). However, if an acute respiratory infection is caused by hypothermia, the incubation period may be reduced to 2-3 days. With a cold, there is usually no prodromal period.

The disease after hypothermia or acute respiratory viral infection can immediately begin with clinical manifestations.

Typically, the symptoms of acute respiratory infections are pronounced:

a sore throat;
severe soreness;
nasal congestion;
light but thick nasal discharge;
low-grade fever (most often) or normal readings.

But sometimes (very rarely) the disease is not accompanied by local manifestations, but only a slight deterioration in the general condition, which the patient can attribute to severe fatigue.

Treatment for a cold should occur immediately. Otherwise, a mild illness may develop into a real bacterial infection that will require antibacterial treatment.

Moreover, hemolytic streptococcus, which causes most colds, can cause serious complications in the heart, kidneys or joints.

Now it’s clear how a cold differs from a viral infection:

when infection occurs from contact with a patient, acute respiratory infections are an autoinfection;
The prodromal period for ARVI is one day, but for acute respiratory infections it is absent;
ARVI is characterized by a bright onset, the symptoms of a cold are usually blurred (with the exception of one symptom);
During acute respiratory viral infections, nasal discharge is abundant and liquid; during a cold, it is either absent altogether or has a thick consistency.

Treatment methods for ARVI

In order to prescribe adequate treatment for a cold, it is important for the doctor to know what caused it. Why? The answer is very simple: if you prescribe antibiotics to a patient with a viral infection, the drugs will only weaken the body’s immune system, but they will not affect the cause of the disease.

This will lead to the patient developing dysbiosis and resistance to pathogenic bacteria present on the mucous membrane of the throat and nose. The body will lose the ability to resist the viral infection, the disease will drag on and may result in serious complications.

Treatment of viral infections should be carried out according to the following scheme: First of all, the doctor prescribes antiviral drugs:

Cytovir 3.
Isoprinosine.
Kagocel.
Remantadine.
Interferon.
Viferon.

If the body temperature has risen to 38.5 or higher, antipyretic medications are indicated:

Cefekon.
Paracetamol.
Nise.
Ibuprofen.
Nurofen.

In the early stages of influenza, a dry cough requires the use of antitussives and mucolytics that dilute sputum:

Libexin.
Sinekod.
Ambrobene.
Bromhexine.
Mukaltin.

Treatment requires taking vitamin complexes and restorative drugs that stimulate the body's resistance.

Medicines that will relieve pain and sore throat:

Septolete.
Agisept.
Lysobacter.
Tantum Verde.
Hexoral.
Furacilin solution for rinsing.

To wash away the infection, you need to rinse your nose with salt water several times a day. With this procedure, mucus is better removed from the sinuses, which prevents the development of sinusitis.

The patient should be provided with bed rest; in extreme cases, children should be prohibited from playing outdoor games.

The patient's room must be ventilated several times a day and wet cleaned. The patient needs to drink as much as possible, good for this:

herbal infusions and decoctions;
tea with raspberries;
tea with honey and lemon;
linden infusion;
fruit drinks, compotes and jelly.

The patient's food should be rich in vitamins and minerals. It is recommended to eat more garlic and onions.

These products contain phytoncide, a natural antiviral component.

Cold treatment

Treatment of acute respiratory infections differs from the methods used for acute respiratory viral infections. If a week after the start of therapy the patient does not feel relief, it means that a bacterial infection has joined the viral infection. In this case, the patient is prescribed antibacterial drugs.

For a mild cold, sometimes it is enough to rinse your nose and irrigate it with drops containing antibiotics. With severe rhinitis and swelling of the nasal mucosa, breathing can be improved with the help of vasoconstrictor drops.

You can get rid of a sore throat and sore throat by sucking Grammidin tablets or irrigating with Bioparox aerosol. The only condition is that all these drugs must be prescribed by a doctor.

TheraFlu Lar, Stopangin, and Hexoral sprays will help you cope with colds. The patient is advised to drink plenty of fluids and apply heat compresses to the throat.

If local therapy has no effect, systemic antibiotics are usually prescribed:

Erythromycin.
Azithromycin.
Amoxiclav.
Flemoxin.

This is especially necessary if the disease progresses to the stage of bronchitis or tracheitis.

Prevention of acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections

Since the causes of the development of these diseases are different, preventive measures should also be different. However, there are also general points.

To prevent the off-season virus, you must:

avoid crowded places;
wear a protective mask;
use products that form a protective film in the nose (Nazoval);
exclude contact with sick people;
get preventive vaccinations.

To avoid catching a cold, a person must strengthen his immune system. To do this you need:

to eat well;
harden;
expose the body to sports stress;
visit salt caves;
often walk in the fresh air;
eradicate bad habits;
sleep well.

All these measures are also good for the prevention of ARVI, since strong immunity guarantees that a small amount of the virus that enters the body will simply die there and will not be able to provoke the disease.

In conclusion, the specialist will tell you how to correctly distinguish between flu and colds.

How are bacteria different from viruses?

Bacteria- These are overwhelmingly unicellular microorganisms with an unformed nucleus. That is, these are real cells that have their own metabolism and reproduce by division. According to the shape of the cells, bacteria can be round in shape - called cocci (staphylococcus, streptococcus, pneumococcus, meningococcus, etc.), they can be rod-shaped (Escherichia coli, pertussis, dysentery, etc.), and other forms of bacteria are less common.

Many bacteria that are normally safe for humans and live on their skin, mucous membranes, and intestines can act as pathogens in case of general weakening of the body or impaired immunity.

Some viruses can remain in the human body throughout life. They go into a latent state and are activated only under certain conditions. These viruses include herpesviruses, papillomaviruses and HIV. In a latent state, the virus cannot be destroyed by either the immune system or medications.

Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI)

ARVI– viral diseases of the upper respiratory tract, transmitted by airborne droplets. Respiratory viral infections are the most common infectious disease.

All acute respiratory viral infections are characterized by a very short incubation period– from 1 to 5 days. This is the time during which the virus that has entered the body manages to multiply to the point where the first symptoms of the disease begin to appear.

After the incubation period comes prodromal period(prodrome) is a period of illness when the virus has already spread throughout the body, and the immune system has not yet had time to react to it. The first symptoms begin to appear: lethargy, moodiness, rhinitis, pharyngitis, a characteristic shine in the eyes. During this period, antiviral drugs are most effective.

The next step is onset of illness. ARVI, as a rule, begins acutely - the temperature rises to 38-39 ° C, headache, chills, runny nose, cough, and sore throat may appear. It is advisable to remember when the infection could have occurred, that is, when there was contact with the carrier of the virus, since if no more than five days have passed from this moment until the onset of the disease, then this is an argument in favor of the viral nature of the disease.

Viral infections are usually treated symptomatically, that is, antipyretics, expectorants, etc. Antibiotics do not work on viruses.

The most well-known viral infections are influenza, ARVI, herpes infections, viral hepatitis, HIV infection, measles, rubella, mumps, chicken pox, tick-borne encephalitis, hemorrhagic fevers, polio, etc.

Blood picture for viral infections

With viral infections, the blood count usually remains normal or slightly below normal, although sometimes there may be a slight increase in the white blood cell count. Changes in the leukocyte formula occur due to an increase in the content of and/or, and, accordingly, a decrease in the amount of. may increase slightly, although in severe ARVI, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be quite high.

Bacterial infections

Bacterial infections can occur on their own or be associated with a viral infection, since viruses suppress the immune system.

The main difference between bacterial infections and viral ones is the longer incubation period, which ranges from 2 to 14 days. Unlike viral infections, in this case you should pay attention not only to the expected time of contact with the carrier of the infection, but also take into account whether there has been recent stress or hypothermia. Since some bacteria are able to live in the human body for years without manifesting themselves and become more active in the event of a general weakening of the body.

Prodromal period with bacterial infections it is often absent; for example, an infection can begin as a complication of acute respiratory viral infection. And if viral infections often begin with a general deterioration of the condition, then bacterial infections usually have a clear local manifestation (sore throat, otitis media, sinusitis). The temperature often does not rise above 38 degrees.

Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. To prevent possible complications of the disease, it is important to start treatment on time. Using antibiotics without appropriate indications can lead to the formation of resistant bacteria. Therefore, only a doctor should select and prescribe antibiotics correctly.

The most common bacterial infections are sinusitis, otitis, pneumonia or meningitis (although pneumonia and meningitis can also be viral in nature). The most well-known bacterial infections are whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, tuberculosis, most intestinal infections, syphilis, gonorrhea, etc.

Blood picture for bacterial infections

With bacterial infections, there is usually an increase in the amount in the blood, which occurs mainly due to an increase in the amount. A so-called shift of the leukocyte formula to the left is observed, that is, the number of band neutrophils increases, and young forms may appear - metamyelocytes (young) and myelocytes. As a result, the relative (percentage) content may decrease. (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is usually quite high.

If a bacterial infection has entered the body, the symptoms of the pathological process are similar to signs of intoxication and require treatment with or without antibiotics. The patient's general condition worsens, and the disturbed temperature regime leaves him bedridden. Bacterial diseases can be successfully treated with conservative treatment; the main thing is not to cause the spread of pathogenic flora.

Contagious or not

To get an answer to this question, you need to know all existing types of bacterial infections and undergo timely diagnostics to identify the pathogen. For the most part, such pathogenic microorganisms are dangerous to humans and are transmitted through household contact, airborne droplets, and nutrition. After infection enters the body, inflammation, acute intoxication, and tissue damage occur, while the body’s immune response decreases.

Symptoms of a bacterial infection

Symptoms are similar to signs of general intoxication of an organic resource, accompanied by high body temperature and severe chills. Pathogenic flora, as it were, poisons an organic resource, releasing waste products into once healthy tissues and blood. Common symptoms of bacterial infection are presented below:

fever;
increased sweating;
acute migraine attacks;
nausea, less often – vomiting;
dizziness;
general weakness, malaise;
complete lack of appetite.

In children

Children in childhood are much more likely to be susceptible to bacterial infections, since the general state of the immune system leaves much to be desired. With the release of toxins, the symptoms only increase, confining the child to bed, forcing parents to go on sick leave. Here are the changes in children’s well-being that you need to pay special attention to:

constant moodiness;
tearfulness, lethargy;
temperature instability;
fever, chills;
pronounced signs of dyspepsia;
skin rashes of unknown etiology;
the appearance of white plaque on the tonsils with severe soreness in the throat.

Bacterial infections in women

With respiratory diseases of the airways, we are often talking about bacterial damage. Alternatively, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and laryngitis progress, which are accompanied by recurrent sore throat, and less commonly, purulent discharge from the throat. Microbes cause the following changes in the female body:

temperature jump up to 40 degrees;
suffocating cough with progressive runny nose;
pronounced signs of intoxication;
violation of intestinal and vaginal microflora;
acute otitis depending on the location of the infection;
prolonged bouts of diarrhea;
signs of decreased immunity.

Signs of a bacterial infection

In order for the diagnosis of bacterial infections to be timely, it is necessary to pay attention to the first changes in the patient’s general well-being, and not to refer to the classic cold, which “will go away on its own.” You should be wary of:

frequent trips to the toilet, diarrhea;
feeling of nausea, complete lack of appetite;
a sharp decrease in body weight;
temperature rise above 39 degrees;
painful sensations of varying localization depending on the nature of the infection and its location.

How to distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial one

It is impossible to do without bacteriological analysis, since this is the basis of diagnosis and the ability to correctly differentiate the final diagnosis. However, an adult patient is able to independently distinguish the nature and localization of the pathology focus. This is important for future treatment, since bacterial lesions can be successfully treated with antibiotics, while pathogenic viruses cannot be destroyed with antibiotics.

The main difference between a bacterial infection and a viral one is the following: in the first case, the focus of pathology is local, in the second it is more systemic. Thus, pathogenic viruses infect the entire body, sharply reducing overall well-being. As for bacteria, they have a narrow specialization, for example, they rapidly develop laryngitis or tonsillitis. To determine the virus in such a clinical picture, a general blood test is required; to identify the bacterial flora, a sputum test is required (for infection of the lower respiratory tract).

Kinds

After inflammation of the mucous membranes and the appearance of other symptoms of bacterial damage, it is necessary to determine the nature of the pathogenic flora in a laboratory way. Diagnosis is carried out in a hospital; collecting anamnesis data is not enough to make a final diagnosis. In modern medicine, the following types of infections are declared, which have predominantly bacterial flora and cause such dangerous diseases of the body:

Acute intestinal bacterial infections: salmonellosis, dysentery, typhoid fever, food toxic infections, campylobacteriosis.
Bacterial lesions of the skin: erysipelas, impetigo, phlegmon, furunculosis, hidradenitis.
Bacterial respiratory tract infections: sinusitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia, bronchitis.
Blood-borne bacterial infections: tularemia, typhus, plague, trench fever.

Diagnostics

As pathogenic bacteria multiply in the absence of timely treatment, the infectious process becomes chronic. To avoid becoming carriers of dangerous infections, you need to undergo a comprehensive examination in a timely manner. This is a mandatory general blood test, which shows an increased number of leukocytes and a jump in ESR. Other changes in the body fluid of an infected person are presented below:

increase in neutrophil granulocytes;
shift of the leukocyte formula to the left;
increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

To avoid the development and spread of a chronic disease, the following types of clinical examinations are recommended:

Bacteriological (study of the habitat of microbes, creation of favorable conditions for the formation of viable colonies in laboratory conditions).
Serological (detection of specific antibodies in the blood to certain types of pathogenic microbes - under a microscope they differ in color).
Microscopic (after collection, the biological material is examined in detail under a microscope, at the cellular level).

How to treat a bacterial infection

The pathological process begins with an incubation period, the duration of which depends on the nature of the pathogenic flora, its location and activity. The main goal of implementing conservative methods is to prevent blood poisoning and restore the general well-being of the clinical patient. Treatment is symptomatic, here are valuable recommendations from competent specialists:

The prescription of antibiotics and representatives of other pharmacological groups should be carried out exclusively by the attending physician, since certain microorganisms are immune to certain medications.
In addition to conservative treatment, you need to reconsider your daily diet and usual lifestyle. For example, it is useful to completely avoid salty and fatty foods, bad habits and excessive passivity. Be sure to strengthen weak immunity.
Symptomatic treatment is carried out depending on the location of the source of pathology and the affected body system. For example, for diseases of the respiratory system, mucolytics and expectorants are needed, and for tonsillitis, antibiotics cannot be avoided.

Antibiotics

If bronchitis or pneumonia occurs, such dangerous diseases must be treated with antibiotics in order to avoid extremely unpleasant complications with the health of the adult patient and child. Side effects include allergic reactions, digestive disorders and more. Therefore, the prescription of antibiotics should be carried out exclusively by the attending physician after diagnosis. So:

To slow down the growth of pathogenic flora, bacteriostatic agents such as Tetracycline and Chloramphenicol tablets are prescribed.
To eradicate bacterial infections, bactericidal drugs such as Penicillin, Rifamycin, and Aminoglycosides are recommended.
Among the representatives of penicillin antibiotics, Amoxiclav, Augmentin, and Amoxicillin are especially in demand.

How to cure a bacterial infection without antibiotics

Symptomatic therapy for adults and children is carried out according to medical indications. For example, in the fight against headaches you will have to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, Nurofen, Ibuprofen. If pain appears in another location, you can remove it with Diclofenac. To cure a bacterial infection without antibiotics, the following medications are recommended:

Diclofenac. Painkillers that additionally relieve inflammation have bactericidal properties.
Regidron. A saline solution that should be taken in case of acute intoxication of the body to remove the infection.

How to treat a bacterial infection in children

In childhood, for acute infections, drinking plenty of fluids and symptomatic treatment is recommended. Antibiotics should be abandoned if the disease is at an early stage and there are no secondary microbes. If you have an upper respiratory tract infection, you will need cough suppressants and mucolytics. For throat diseases, it is better to use local antiseptics - Lugol, Chlorophyllipt. Patients with meningitis should be urgently hospitalized.

Prevention

The penetration of pathogenic flora into the body can be prevented. To do this, at any age, it is recommended to adhere to the following preventive recommendations from a knowledgeable specialist:

preventive vaccination;
avoiding prolonged hypothermia of the body;
strengthening the immune system;
compliance with personal hygiene rules;
proper nutrition for adults and children, vitamins.

Video

Today, thousands of bacteria are known - some are beneficial, while others are pathogenic and cause disease. Many terrible diseases: plague, anthrax, leprosy, cholera and tuberculosis are bacterial infections.

Well, the most common are meningitis and pneumonia.

It is important not to confuse bacterial infections with viral ones and to know the symptoms and treatment options.

What infections are called bacterial?

Bacterial infections represent a huge group of diseases. They have one thing in common – bacteria. They are the most ancient and numerous microorganisms.

Airways;
intestines;
blood;
skin covering.

Separately, bacterial infections in children and hidden sexually transmitted infections in women and men are distinguished.

Bacterial respiratory tract infections often develop after a cold, as a complication. The immune system becomes weaker, and pathogenic bacteria that previously did not manifest themselves in any way begin to multiply. Respiratory bacterial infections can be caused by the following pathogens:

staphylococci;
pneumococci;
streptococci;
whooping cough stick;
meningococci;
mycobacteria;
mycoplasmas.

Upper respiratory tract infection usually manifests itself as bacterial sinusitis, pharyngitis and acute tonsillitis (more commonly known as tonsillitis). In this case, a pronounced focus of inflammation is always observed.

To bacterial infectious diseases of the lower respiratory tract include bacterial bronchitis and pneumonia.

Bacterial intestinal infections often occur due to unwashed hands, consumption of poorly cooked, improperly stored or expired products. In most cases the problem is caused by:

shigella;
staphylococci;
cholera vibrios;
typhoid bacillus;
salmonellosis.

Bacterial intestinal infections are the most dangerous because their symptoms (such as diarrhea) are not always taken seriously.

Intestinal bacterial infections are most often manifested by the following diseases:

salmonellosis;
typhoid fever;
dysentery.

In women and men, bacterial infections affect both genitourinary system. Most often, women are exposed to bacterial vaginosis (gardnerellosis), chlamydia, cystitis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis. Men suffer from urethritis, chlamydia, bacterial balanitis or prostatitis.

In children Most often there are viral infections, which are complicated by bacterial ones due to the weakening of the body during the period of illness. In most cases, the following viral diseases are observed in childhood:

measles;
rubella;
piggy;
chicken pox.

Children who have had such infections receive strong immunity and are no longer exposed to these diseases. But if during the period of illness the child had contact with harmful bacteria, then it is quite possible for complications to develop in the form of bacterial pneumonia, otitis media, etc.

How to distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial one

Bacterial and viral infections are often confused. They may have the same symptoms and even similar results in diagnostic tests.

It is imperative to differentiate these infections, since the drugs needed to treat them are completely different.

There are several signs by which you can determine whether a bacterial or viral infection is present in the body:

Duration. Symptoms of a viral infection usually subside quickly (in about 7-10 days), but a bacterial infection can last more than a month.
Slime color. If the disease is accompanied by sputum discharge or nasal mucus, then you should pay attention to their color. The virus is usually accompanied by discharge of a clear color and liquid consistency. Bacterial infections are more likely to have a dark greenish or yellow-green discharge. You should not rely entirely on this sign.
Temperature. Infections of both types are usually accompanied by fever, but with bacterial diseases it is higher and characterized by a gradual increase. With a virus, this indicator behaves in the opposite way - it gradually decreases.
Routes of infection. Among bacterial infections, only some diseases are transmitted by contact, and for the virus this is the main route of spread.
Development and localization. Bacterial infections tend to develop slowly, but the virus immediately manifests itself clearly. In the first case, the lesion is isolated, that is, the disease is localized in a certain area. A viral disease affects the entire body.
Test results. One of the main indicators is the level of leukocytes and lymphocytes. Leukocytes increase with infection of any etiology, but with a bacterial infection, it is neutrophils that are increased(this is a special type of leukocyte). With a viral infection, leukocytes may be elevated, but most often they are lowered (including neutrophils) (for example, with influenza, viral hepatitis, measles, rubella, mumps, typhoid fever, leukocytes are necessarily below normal), but here with a viral infection, an increase in the number of lymphocytes is necessarily observed, and an increase in monocytes may also be observed (with infectious mononucleosis, for example), so the result of a general blood test is assessed comprehensively. Another analysis is a bacteriological study of biological fluid (discharge from the eye, ear, sinuses, wounds or sputum, for example). This test will identify the causative agent of the bacterial infection.

Symptoms of bacterial infections

There are many possible bacterial infections. Each has its own characteristics, and therefore the set of symptoms varies.

The incubation period for bacterial infections varies widely. Some pathogens actively reproduce in a few hours, while others require several days.

Signs of a bacterial infection depend on what part of the body it affects. Intestinal diseases in this case are manifested by the following symptoms:

elevated temperature and fever;
abdominal pain;
vomiting;
diarrhea.

These symptoms are generalized, as individual diseases manifest themselves differently. For example, with typhoid infection, not only the stomach hurts, but also the throat and joints.

Children's bacterial infections are characterized by a wider range of symptoms. The thing is that almost always a bacterial infection is a continuation of a viral one. For example, a child falls ill with an adenovirus, but under certain conditions he develops a bacterial infection as a complication of the initial disease, so the clinical picture is erased.

But still the diseases are expressed by the following symptoms:

high temperature (more than 39°C);
nausea and vomiting;
coating on the tongue and tonsils;
severe intoxication.

If, after an improvement in health, a deterioration in the patient’s condition is observed, then most often this indicates the development of complications of a bacterial nature after a viral illness.

Bacterial infections in the upper respiratory tract also often appear after a virus infection, when immunity decreases. Infection is expressed in the following symptoms:

deterioration of health;
pronounced lesion;
purulent discharge;
white plaque in the throat.

Bacterial infection in women affecting the genitourinary system has the following symptoms:

vaginal discharge - color and consistency depends on the causative agent of the infection;
itching and burning;
unpleasant odor;
painful urination;
pain during intercourse.

In men, the development of bacterial infection is similar:

pathological discharge from the urethra;
unpleasant odor of discharge;
painful urination, itching, burning;
discomfort during sexual intercourse.

Diagnostics

For bacterial infections, certain tests are necessary. They are used to differentiate bacterial lesions from viral ones, as well as to determine the pathogen. The course of treatment depends on the test results.

Bacterial infections are diagnosed mainly through laboratory tests. The following methods are usually used:

Blood test with leukocyte formula. With a bacterial infection, an increased number of neutrophils is observed. When the number of band neutrophils is increased, they speak of an acute infectious disease. But if metamyelocytes or myelocytes are detected, then the patient’s condition is characterized as dangerous and requires urgent medical attention. With the help of such diagnostics it is possible to identify the nature and stage of the disease.
Analysis of urine. Shows whether the urinary system is affected by bacteria, and is also necessary to determine the severity of intoxication.
Bacteriological study with antibiogram. Using this analysis, the type of infectious agent is determined and what means can be used to kill it (the so-called sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics is determined). These factors are important for prescribing the correct therapy.
Serological study. Based on the identification of antibodies and antigens that interact in a specific way. For such studies, venous blood is taken. This method is effective when the pathogen cannot be isolated.

Dr. Komarovsky talks in detail about how laboratory diagnostics are performed to distinguish a bacterial infection from a viral one:

Laboratory tests are the main direction of diagnosing bacterial infections. In some cases, additional examinations are required:

X-ray. Performed to differentiate specific processes in individual organs.
Instrumental diagnostics. Ultrasound or laparoscopy is most often used. These methods are needed to study internal organs for specific lesions.

Prescription of correct treatment, its effectiveness and the risk of complications directly depend on the timeliness of diagnosis. You should consult a doctor at the first alarming symptoms - at the appointment the patient is always prescribed tests.

General approach to treating bacterial infections

The treatment of bacterial infections is guided by general principles. This implies a certain therapy algorithm:

Eliminate the cause of the disease.
Cleanse the body of toxins.
Heal organs affected by infection.
Reduce the severity of symptoms and alleviate the condition.

Treatment of a bacterial infection involves mandatory use of antibiotics, and if it is an intestinal infection, then also following a special diet.

As for taking medications, broad-spectrum drugs include penicillin antibiotics and 3rd generation cephalosporins.

There are a lot of antibiotics, each group of such drugs has its own mechanism of action and purpose. Self-medication at best will not bring any effect, and at worst it will lead to neglect of the disease and a number of complications, so treatment should be prescribed by a doctor depending on the nature of the disease. The patient is only obliged to follow all the doctor’s instructions and not to arbitrarily reduce the course of antibiotics and the prescribed dosage.

Let's summarize what has been said. There are a lot of bacterial infections, and the effectiveness of their treatment directly depends on identifying the causative agent of the disease. Most people are carriers of certain bacteria, but the development of infection is provoked only by certain factors. This can be avoided through preventative measures.

Summary: Advice from a pediatrician. Colds in children treatment. How to treat colds in children. Colds in children under one year of age. The child fell ill with ARVI. The child fell ill with the flu. Viral infection in children treatment. Viral infection in children symptoms. Viral infection: how to treat it. Bacterial infection in children. Bacterial infection symptoms. Bacterial throat infection.

Attention! This article is for informational purposes only. Be sure to consult your doctor.

If a child has an acute respiratory infection (ARI), then the question of whether the disease is caused by viruses or bacteria is a fundamental one. The fact is that pediatricians of the so-called “old school”, that is, those who graduated from the institute in the 1970-1980s, prefer to prescribe antibiotics for any rise in temperature. The motive for such appointments - “whatever happens” - does not stand up to criticism. On the one side, viruses that cause most acute respiratory infections are completely indifferent to antibiotics , with another - For some viral infections, prescribing antibiotics can lead to serious complications , next to which traditional complications from antibiotic therapy - intestinal dysbiosis and drug allergies - will seem like a problem for the first grade of high school.

There is only one way out of this situation, very effective, although quite labor-intensive - to assess both the child’s condition and the doctor’s prescriptions yourself. Yes, of course, even a local pediatrician, who is usually only scolded, is armed with a university diploma, not to mention the head of the pediatrics department in the same district clinic, and even more so a candidate of sciences, to whom you take your child every six months for an appointment or cancellation of preventive vaccinations. However, none of these doctors, unlike you, have the physical ability to monitor your child daily and hourly.

Meanwhile, the data of such observation in medical language is called anamnesis, and it is on them that doctors base the so-called primary diagnosis. Everything else - examination, tests and x-rays - serves only to clarify the diagnosis that has actually already been made. So, not learning to really assess the condition of your own child, whom you see every day, is simply not good.

Let's try - you and I will definitely succeed.

In order to distinguish an acute respiratory infection caused by viruses from the same acute respiratory infection, but caused by bacteria, you and I will only need minimal knowledge of how these diseases proceed. It will also be very useful to know how often per year the child has been sick recently, who is sick and what in the children’s group, and, perhaps, how your child behaved in the last five to seven days before getting sick. This is all.

Respiratory viral infections (ARVI)

There are not so many respiratory viral infections in nature - these are the well-known influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus infection, respiratory syncytial infection and rhinovirus. Of course, thick medical manuals recommend doing very expensive and time-consuming tests to distinguish one infection from another, but each of them has its own “calling card”, by which it can be recognized at the patient’s bedside. However, you and I don’t need such deep knowledge - it is much more important to learn to distinguish the listed diseases from bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract. All this is necessary so that your local doctor does not prescribe antibiotics for the wrong reasons or, God forbid, does not forget to prescribe them - if antibiotics are really needed.

Incubation period

All respiratory viral infections (hereinafter referred to as ARVI) have a very short incubation period - from 1 to 5 days. It is believed that this is the time during which the virus, having penetrated the body, is able to multiply to the amount that will definitely manifest itself as a cough, runny nose and fever. Therefore, if a child does get sick, you need to remember the last time he visited, for example, a children's group and how many children there looked sick. If less than five days have passed from this moment to the onset of the disease, this is an argument in favor of the viral nature of the disease. However, just one argument will not be enough for you and me.

Prodrome

After the end of the incubation period, the so-called prodrome begins - a period when the virus has already unfolded in all its power, and the child’s body, in particular his immune system, has not yet begun to adequately respond to the adversary.

You can suspect something is wrong already during this period: the child’s behavior changes dramatically. He (she) becomes capricious, more capricious than usual, lethargic or, conversely, unusually active, and a characteristic sparkle appears in the eyes. Children may complain of thirst: this is the beginning of viral rhinitis, and the discharge, while there is little of it, flows not through the nostrils, but into the nasopharynx, irritating the mucous membrane of the throat. If the child is less than a year old, the first thing that changes is sleep: the child either sleeps for an unusually long time or does not sleep at all.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO : It is during the prodromal period that all the antiviral drugs we are familiar with are most effective - from homeopathic oscillococcinum and EDAS to rimantadine (effective only during an influenza epidemic) and Viferon. Since all of the drugs listed either do not have side effects at all, or these effects appear to a minimal extent (like rimantadine), they can be started to be given already during this period. If the child is older than two years, ARVI may end before it even begins, and you may get away with a slight fright.

What NOT to do : You should not start treatment with antipyretic drugs (for example, with Efferalgan) or with advertised anti-cold drugs such as Coldrex or Fervex, which are essentially just a mixture of the same Efferalgan (paracetamol) with antiallergic drugs, flavored with a small amount of vitamin C. Such a cocktail is not only will blur the picture of the disease (we will still rely on the doctor’s competence), but will also prevent the child’s body from responding qualitatively to the viral infection.

Onset of the disease

As a rule, ARVI begins acutely and vividly: body temperature jumps to 38-39 ° C, chills, headache, and sometimes sore throat, cough and runny nose appear. However, these symptoms may not exist - the onset of a rare viral infection is marked by local symptoms. If, however, it does come to such a rise in temperature, you should expect that the illness will drag on for 5-7 days and still call a doctor. It is from this moment that you can begin traditional (paracetamol, drinking plenty of fluids, suprastin) treatment. But now you shouldn’t expect quick results from antiviral drugs: from now on, they can only contain the virus.

It is very important to remember that after 3-5 days, a child who has almost recovered can suddenly, as doctors say, deteriorate again. Viruses are also dangerous because they can bring with them a bacterial infection “on their tail” - with all the ensuing consequences.

Important! A virus that infects the upper respiratory tract always causes an allergic reaction, even if the child is not allergic. Moreover, at a high temperature, a child may have allergic reactions (in the form of, for example, urticaria) to usual food or drink. That is why during acute respiratory viral infections it is very important to have antiallergic drugs (suprastin, tavegil, claritin or zyrtec) on hand. By the way, rhinitis, which is manifested by nasal congestion and watery discharge, and conjunctivitis (shiny or reddened eyes in a sick child) are characteristic symptoms of a viral infection. With bacterial infection of the respiratory tract, both are extremely rare.

Bacterial respiratory tract infections

The choice of bacteria that cause infectious lesions of the upper (and lower - that is, bronchi and lungs) respiratory tract is somewhat richer than the choice of viruses. There are Corynbacteria, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella. And there are also the causative agents of whooping cough, meningococcus, pneumococcus, chlamydia (not those that venereologists enthusiastically study, but those transmitted by airborne droplets), mycoplasma and streptococcus. Let me make a reservation right away: the clinical manifestations of the vital activity of all these unpleasant microorganisms require doctors to immediately prescribe antibiotics - without timely antibiotic therapy, the consequences of bacterial damage to the respiratory tract can be completely catastrophic. So much so that it’s better not to even mention it. The main thing is to understand in time that antibiotics are really needed.

By the way, the company of dangerous or simply unpleasant bacteria that like to settle in the respiratory tract does not include Staphylococcus aureus. Yes, yes, the same one that is so enthusiastically removed from the upper respiratory tract, and then poisoned with antibiotics by some particularly advanced doctors. Staphylococcus aureus is a normal inhabitant of our skin; in the respiratory tract he is an accidental guest, and believe me, even without antibiotics he is very uncomfortable there. However, let's get back to bacterial infections.

Incubation period

The main difference between a bacterial respiratory tract infection and a viral one is a longer incubation period - from 2 to 14 days. True, in the case of a bacterial infection, it will be necessary to take into account not only and not so much the expected time of contact with patients (remember how it was in the case of ARVI?), but also the child’s overwork, stress, hypothermia, and finally, moments when the baby uncontrollably ate snow or got your feet wet. The fact is that some microorganisms (meningococci, pneumococci, moraxella, chlamydia, streptococci) can live in the respiratory tract for years without showing anything. The same stress and hypothermia, and even a viral infection, can cause them to lead an active life.

By the way, it is useless to take swabs for flora from the respiratory tract in order to take measures in advance. On standard media, which are most often used in laboratories, meningococci, streptococci and the already mentioned Staphylococcus aureus can grow. It is this that grows the fastest, choking, like a weed, the growth of microbes that are really worth looking for. By the way, the “track record” of chlamydia that is not sown in any way includes a quarter of all chronic tonsillitis, interstitial (very poorly diagnosed) pneumonia, and in addition reactive arthritis (because of them, in combination with chlamydial tonsillitis, a child can easily lose tonsils).

Prodrome

Most often, bacterial infections have no visible prodromal period - the infection begins as a complication of acute respiratory viral infections (otitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae or pneumococci; sinusitis, originating from the same pneumococci or moraxella). And if ARVI begins as a general deterioration of the condition without any local manifestations (they appear later and not always), then bacterial infections always have a clear “point of application”.

Unfortunately, this is not only acute otitis media or sinusitis (sinusitis or ethmoiditis), which are relatively easy to cure. Streptococcal sore throat is far from harmless, although even without any treatment (except for soda rinses and hot milk, which no caring mother will fail to use) it disappears on its own in 5 days. The fact is that streptococcal tonsillitis is caused by the same beta-hemolytic streptococcus, which includes the already mentioned chronic tonsillitis, but they, unfortunately, can lead to rheumatism and acquired heart defects. (By the way, tonsillitis is also caused by chlamydia and viruses, for example adenovirus or the Epstein-Barr virus. True, neither one nor the other, unlike streptococcus, never leads to rheumatism. But we’ll talk about this a little later.) The said streptococcus after recovery from a sore throat, it does not disappear anywhere - it settles on the tonsils and behaves quite decently for quite a long time.

Streptococcal tonsillitis has the shortest incubation period among bacterial infections - 3-5 days. If there is no cough or runny nose with a sore throat, if the child still has a clear voice and no redness of the eyes, this is almost certainly streptococcal sore throat. In this case, if the doctor recommends antibiotics, it is better to agree - leaving beta-hemolytic streptococcus in the child’s body may be more expensive. Moreover, when it first enters the body, streptococcus is not yet hardened in the fight for its own survival and any contact with antibiotics is fatal for it. American doctors, who cannot take a step without various tests, have discovered that already on the second day of taking antibiotics for streptococcal sore throat, the evil streptococcus completely disappears from the body - at least until the next meeting.

In addition to streptococcal sore throat, complications from which may or may not occur, there are other infections, the results of which appear much faster and can lead to much more harmful consequences.

The microbe that causes seemingly harmless nasopharyngitis is called meningococcus for a reason - under favorable circumstances, meningococcus can cause purulent meningitis and sepsis after itself. By the way, the second most common causative agent of purulent meningitis is also, at first glance, a harmless hemophilus influenzae; however, most often it manifests itself with the same otitis media, sinusitis and bronchitis. Bronchitis and pneumonia, which are very similar to those caused by Haemophilus influenzae (usually arising as complications of acute respiratory viral infections), can also be caused by pneumococcus. The same pneumococcus causes sinusitis and otitis. And since both Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococcus are sensitive to the same antibiotics, doctors don’t really know which one is in front of them. In one and another case, you can get rid of the restless adversary with the help of the most common penicillin - long before the pneumococcus causes serious problems for the little patient in the form of pneumonia or meningitis.

Closing the hit parade of bacterial respiratory tract infections are chlamydia and mycoplasma - tiny microorganisms that, like viruses, can live only inside the cells of their victims. These microbes are not capable of causing either otitis or sinusitis. The hallmark of these infections is the so-called interstitial pneumonia in older children. Unfortunately, interstitial pneumonia differs from ordinary pneumonia only in that it cannot be detected either by listening or by tapping the lungs - only by x-ray. Because of this, doctors make the diagnosis of such pneumonia quite late - and, by the way, interstitial pneumonia is no better than any other. Fortunately, mycoplasmas and chlamydia are very sensitive to erythromycin and similar antibiotics, so pneumonia caused by them (if diagnosed) is very treatable.

Important! If your local pediatrician is not very competent, it is important to suspect interstitial chlamydial or mycoplasma pneumonia before he does - at least to hint to the doctor that you do not mind undergoing an X-ray examination of the lungs.

The main sign of chlamydial and mycoplasma infections is the age of the children who suffer from them. Interstitial chlamydial and mycoplasma pneumonia most often affects schoolchildren; the disease in a young child is very rare.

Other signs of interstitial pneumonia are a prolonged cough (sometimes with sputum) and severe complaints of intoxication and shortness of breath with, as medical textbooks put it, “very poor physical examination data.” Translated into normal Russian, this means that despite all your complaints, the doctor does not see or hear any problems.

Information about the onset of the disease can help a little - with chlamydial infection, everything begins with a rise in temperature, which is accompanied by nausea and headache. With a mycoplasma infection, there may be no temperature at all, but that same prolonged cough is accompanied by sputum. I have not found any clear symptoms of mycoplasma pneumonia in any Russian pediatric manual; But in the guide “Pediatrics according to Rudolph,” which, by the way, has been published in the United States for 21 years, it is recommended to apply pressure to the child’s sternum area (the middle of the chest) while breathing deeply. If this triggers a cough, then you are most likely dealing with interstitial pneumonia.