Is It a Bacterial or Viral Infection? Here’s How You Can Tell

You have a sore throat and the sniffles – is it a bacterial infection or a viral infection? 

Knowing the difference can lead to a faster recovery time, and prevention of further complications. 

What is a bacterial infection? 

Bacteria are microscopic organisms that are all around us—even on us! 

Most bacteria are harmless and even beneficial, such as the bacteria that live in our gut to help us digest food. In fact, less than 1% of bacterial species can cause an infection.

A bacterial infection can arise if a disease-causing type of bacteria enters your body via an opening in your skin or your airways. You can be exposed to bacteria from other people, through the environment, from eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. 

Examples of diseases caused by bacteria include strep throat, urinary tract infections, whooping cough, food poisoning and Lyme disease. 

What is a viral infection? 

Viruses are tiny pathogens made up of genetic material. 

Viruses most commonly enter your body via droplets produced when people who are infected cough, sneeze, or talk. 

These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby, or from touching the same surface as an infected person. 

Once a virus enters your body, it invades healthy cells and reprograms them to make copies of the virus. This process can change, damage, or kill the cells. 

Examples of diseases caused by viruses include chickenpox, shingles, measles, the common cold, mononucleosis, the flu, and COVID-19.  

How can you tell if you have a bacterial or viral infection?   

In some cases, certain characteristic symptoms might clue you in to what type of illness you’re dealing with. For example, if you have an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters, it’s likely you have chickenpox (viral), whereas if you have a sore throat with white patches on the back of your throat, you probably have strep throat (bacterial). 

In other cases, it can be difficult to determine whether an illness is viral or bacterial because they can cause similar symptoms. Additionally, many conditions, such as pneumonia, meningitis and ear infections can be caused by either. 

While googling your symptoms and trying to diagnose yourself might be tempting, you can’t truly determine which specific type of infection you have without a professional opinion from your doctor.

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and may take a nasal or throat swab, or order a blood/urine test to check for signs of bacteria or viruses. 

Treatment of bacterial and viral infections

It’s important to get checked out by your doctor first because the course of treatment is very different depending on what type of infection you have. 

Bacterial infections are typically treated with antibiotics, which either kill the bacteria or stop them from multiplying. (It’s important to note that antibiotic resistance is a growing problem, so antibiotics might only be prescribed for serious infections.) 

Viral infections, on the other hand, can’t be treated with antibiotics. Instead, most treatment typically revolves around relieving symptoms while your body works to clear the infection. 

Some viral diseases can be treated with antiviral medications however, such as herpes, HIV/AIDS, and the flu. 

The bottom line

Sometimes your doctor will be able to diagnose your condition by a physical examination, while other times they may recommend testing to determine if your illness is bacterial or viral in nature. 

If you’re diagnosed with a bacterial infection, an antibiotic will likely be prescribed. If a virus is causing your illness, your treatment will generally focus on managing symptoms while letting the infection run its course. 

If you’re experiencing symptoms, it’s always best to visit your doctor, especially if your symptoms are severe or lasting more than a week. 

To book an appointment with Your Doctors Randwick practitioners, please call 02 9399 9399.

Note: If you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, please go to your nearest COVID clinic for testing.

Image source: Pexels - Andrea-Piacquadio