Basketball at Midnight

How to tell Viral from Bacterial Infection

For an informational post following my most recent encounter with fever and the nonchalance with which the doctor proscribed antibiotics, I tried to do some research to see whether or not I could confirm his suspicion.  Was I infected with a virus or a bacteria?  I didn’t bother to consider the possibility of it being a parasite.

It was not easy finding information.  This website provided a nice comparison of symptoms; conversations with Nurse Becky and other random tidbits were found and seemed useful, and all are summarized below.  I also make a point to mention allergies since they were also covered.

Bacteria

My general conclusion is that a fever with only a single or no other symptoms is probably bacterial.  If you have a fever above 38.5 C (101.3 F), it is assuredly bacterial (and in medical speak, I have been assured that assuredly means “probably”.  Also see the note under Viral Infection).  Otherwise, constant runny noses, headaches, muscle aches, dry coughs, dizziness, and hoarseness are rarely associated with bacterial infections.  If you suspect a throat infection, look for white “plaque” patches on the tonsils: clearly bacterial.  As one friend mentioned, you can’t scrape them off, so don’t try.  General coughs are sometimes present, and raising sputum (phlegm) is common, especially if it’s green (how raising sputum can be common while coughing is only sometimes present seems odd to me).  Bacterial infections often won’t go away without treatment, and so if you persist for 7 days without improvement, consider it bacterial (or allergic).  Improvement usually comes with antibiotics, and you can probably do most of your other activities as you feel able (watch out for alcohol-drug interactions, though).

Viral

My general conclusion is that the night-quil advertisement is the result of a viral infection (or allergies), the “the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever” sickness.  Sputum here is listed as rare, and is often yellow in color.  Viral infections are usually whole-body, and so having “only a single symptom” is uncommon.  Fever may be “high” for 1 or 2 days, and a low grade fever of 4 days is common as well.  Sources may conflict on the 38.5/101 mark here.  Viral infections are often on the 7 day plan, in which the first two days are when you will “noticeable” (or possibly ignore) symptoms, and then days 3-5 make you miserable, and then on days 6-7 you begin to feel better.   You may help yourself improve with fruit juices, zinc, or vitamin C, or deteriorate more with high stress, physical exhaustion, or heavy drinking.

Allergies

Since the information was available, comparing viral infection to allergies suggests this: viruses cause more symptoms.  Allergies do not cause muscle aches, headaches, or fever.  Sputum is often present.  Coughing happens, runny noses are extremely frequent, as well as itchy/scratchy eyes.  It usually recurs with the recurrence of the allergen, be it a season (every spring makes you “sick”) or something else (visiting Amy or Andrea and their cats, for instance).

Comments