Signs of a Bacterial or Viral Infection

If it were possible to tell the signs your body is fighting a bacterial infection from those of a viral infection, it would be easier to pinpoint the treatment you need if your symptoms aren't getting better.

Bacterial and viral infections can share many of the same signs and symptoms, but their causes and treatment differ. While bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, antibiotics won't help with viral infections. To know which type of infection you have, and which treatment will be effective, you'll need to get tested.

This article explains what bacterial and viral infections are, what their symptoms may look like, and what causes them. It also covers when you should see a healthcare provider, how infections are diagnosed, and what treatment may entail.

What Is a Bacterial Infection?

A bacterial infection is a disease caused by tiny organisms called bacteria. Bacteria are single-celled organisms and come in many different shapes and sizes. Some bacteria are beneficial; your body needs them. However, others are harmful and make you sick.

Harmful bacteria can get into your body in many different ways. You can ingest them in your food, inhale them when you breathe, or pick them up through a cut or skin injury.

Bacteria that can cause infection include Streptococcus (resulting in strep throat), Staphylococcus (resulting in staph infection), or E. coli (a cause of foodborne illnesses).

What Is a Viral Infection?

Like bacteria, viruses can cause disease. But unlike bacteria, viral pathogens are not technically living cells. They can only replicate inside another organism, meaning they need a host.

These germs consist of genetic material (RNA or DNA) inside a protein coating. Viruses often kill the host organism.

Viruses are responsible for diseases like the flu, the common cold, AIDS, and COVID-19.

Symptoms of Bacterial and Viral Infections

The first signs of a bacterial or viral infection will vary depending on what bacterium or virus is causing your illness. Sometimes your illness may be so mild you may not even know you're sick. In other cases, illnesses can be life-threatening.

Many symptoms of infection overlap, even though their causes are different. For example, the common cold and COVID-19 share some of the same symptoms, including stuffy or runny nose and sore throat.

General signs and symptoms of an infection include:

• Fever
• Chills and sweats
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Nasal congestion
• Stiff neck
• Burning pain with urination
• Unusual vaginal discharge or irritation
• Increased urination
• Redness, soreness, swelling in any area
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Pain in the abdomen or rectum

You may have heard that green mucus or a wet cough is a sign of a bacterial infection. That might be true, but it doesn't exclude the possibility that something else caused that infection in the first place. Either way, base your decision of whether or not to go to the healthcare provider on how you feel.

What Causes Bacterial and Viral Infections?

You are around bacteria and viruses all the time. They're in the air, on your skin, and on other surfaces. Once they get in your body, your immune system kicks into action to eliminate them. If the pathogen gets the upper hand, you'll start to see symptoms.

Viruses and bacteria can get into your body through different routes of transmission:

• Airborne droplets and particles: You can pick up germs if droplets or particles in the air you breathe land on your mouth, nose, or eyes. This can happen during sneezing or coughing.
• Contact: If you touch a surface that contains bacteria or viruses, you can pick them up on your hands. Surfaces that get touched a lot are likely to carry germs. If you touch your mouth, nose, or someone else with germs on your hands, the germs can spread.
• Inhalation: Some germs can survive on air currents for a long time and cover great distances. Coughing, sneezing, and even talking can produce these airborne particles. This is how tuberculosis and measles are spread.
  
• Sharp injuries: Bloodborne pathogens can get into your body through a skin puncture. Needles and other sharp instruments can puncture the skin, leaving you susceptible to infection. Examples of bloodborne diseases include HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

As with the common cold, some bacterial and viral infections may go away on their own after several days. When they don't, a healthcare provider can run tests to see what's causing your symptoms and provide treatment.

If you suspect you have COVID-19, consider taking an at-home test before deciding to see a healthcare provider.

These warning signs indicate you need to see a healthcare provider right away:

• Difficulty breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in your chest or abdomen
• Persistent dizziness, confusion, or lack of responsiveness
• Seizures
• Not urinating
• Severe muscle pain
• Severe weakness or unsteadiness
• Fever or cough that improves but then comes back or gets worse
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions
  

Take symptoms like shortness of breath and cough seriously. Pneumonia (a bacterial infection of the lungs) or asthma with bronchitis can become life-threatening if not treated promptly and appropriately.

Diagnosing a Bacterial or Viral Infection

Getting tested is the only real way to know what's causing your symptoms. Various fluids and tissues can be tested for germs.

For bacteria, a culture test is commonly used to identify the harmful pathogen. For these tests, a sample of your blood, urine, skin, or other tissue is sent to a lab that grows the bacteria until there are enough to test.

Testing for viruses may involve looking for the virus itself, viral antigens, or specific antibodies. A PCR test, for example, is similar to a culture test where material, in this case genetic material, is replicated in a lab so there are enough copies to test. Rapid antigen tests look for the presence of specific viral proteins and provide a faster result.

Treating a Bacterial or Viral Infection

Bacteria and viruses don't behave in the same way and aren't treated in the same way either. Bacterial infections are likely to go away on their own. However, antibiotics can be prescribed if you have a bacterial infection that isn't getting better.

Treatments for viral infections focus on reducing the symptoms while your immune system fights off the virus. Antiviral medications can be used for some viral infections, but antibiotics will not work.

At home, it's important to get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Using a humidifier or cool mist vaporizer can help with respiratory symptoms. Gargling with warm water may help soothe a sore throat. Saline nose drops or sprays can help clear up nasal congestion.

You could also try over-the-counter pain medicines for pain symptoms. These include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like Aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

Summary

General signs your body is fighting an infection, whether bacterial or viral, include fever, chills, weakness, and soreness. However, you won't be able to know for sure what's causing your symptoms until you get tested.

Your immune system may be able to overcome the bacterial or viral infection without the need for treatment. If symptoms aren't getting better or are getting worse, talk to a healthcare provider.

Healthcare providers can order diagnostic tests and prescribe treatment as needed. If you have a bacterial infection, you may be prescribed antibiotics. For a viral infection, you may get an antiviral medication.