Viral Vs Bacterial Infections: Symptoms, Tests & Treatment
Did you know? Antibiotic use has drastically increased over the past few decades. This overuse is one of the biggest contributors to antibiotic resistance, a serious issue where antibiotics no longer work against harmful bacteria causing serious illnesses and even death.1 One major cause? The confusion between viral vs bacterial infections. Since their symptoms often overlap, many people mistakenly take antibiotics for viral infections, thinking it will help. But it doesn't. In fact, it only makes things worse.
That’s why it's crucial to understand the difference between viral and bacterial infections.
In this blog, we break it down for you and explain how LifeCell’s Respiratory Microfire Panel can help identify the exact organism behind your fever.
Viral Vs Bacterial Infections: Key Differences
| Viral Infection | Bacterial Infection |
| Caused by acellular, non-living organisms (no cells). | Caused by single-celled, living organisms. |
| A virus needs a host to infect and start replicating. | A bacterium (singular) can reproduce independently of the host. |
| Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics. | Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. |
A virus is a non-living microorganism that has a nucleic acid centre and a protein coat. It replicates by taking over the host machinery and instructing it to make copies of itself. When you get sick due to a virus, it’s called a viral infection.2
Viral infections can be of several types:
- Respiratory infections
- Digestive infections
- Viral hemorrhagic fevers
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Rash-causing infections
- Neurological infections
- Congenital infections
A bacterium is a single-celled living organism which may or may not cause infections. Bacterial infections might affect your skin, gut, lungs, heart, brain, blood or any other part of your body.3
Viral Vs Bacterial Infections: Common Symptoms
The symptoms of viral infections often overlap with bacterial infections. Some of these common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Bodyache
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Headache
- Cough
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Blisters
Diagnostic Tests To Identify Infections
First, your doctor would look at your symptoms and conduct a physical examination. Next, they might send your blood or other body fluid sample to a lab for running tests on it. They might also have to run imaging tests to check if there is any organ damage being caused by the infection.
Why Choose LifeCell’s Fever Comprehensive Panel?
As seasonal infections surge, respiratory symptoms like cough, fever, or nasal congestion often get misdiagnosed. Many of us resort to antibiotics without knowing if the cause is viral or bacterial, leading to their misuse, delayed recovery and antibiotic resistance.
But LifeCell’s Respiratory Microfire Panel helps you avoid the guesswork with a highly sensitive PCR-based test that detects 15 bacteria and 17 viruses known to cause respiratory infections.
The test is especially helpful if you're experiencing symptoms like persistent fever, cough, runny nose, or fatigue.
Viral Vs Bacterial Infections: Treatment Options
Not all infections need medical treatment. Some can be taken care of at home by managing the symptoms. However, when treatment becomes necessary, the treatment plan varies depending on the type of infection.
For bacterial infections, the treatment usually involves antibiotics, including pills, creams, eye drops or intravenous medication.
For viral infections, the treatment plan includes:
1. Antiviral Medications
These medications slow down disease progression by preventing viral replication. Antivirals, unlike antibiotics, are specific for a particular type of disease. Antiviral medications are available for diseases like flu, COVID-19, hepatitis B and C, HIV and mpox.
2. Convalescent Plasma
Some viral infections are also treated by convalescent plasma transfusion—plasma from a person who had earlier recovered from a certain viral infection. That’s because their plasma contains antibodies which help to treat the infection. This strategy has helped treat a few cases of Ebola Virus & COVID-19 infection.
3. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
Post-exposure prophylaxis is available for diseases like HIV, rabies, Hepatitis B,
Chickenpox. The treatment approach involves giving remedial treatment after exposure to viral illnesses and before the appearance of symptoms. Your doctor might prescribe either antiviral therapy or antibody treatment.
Tips To Prevent Viral & Bacterial Infections
Adopt these simple but effective habits to stay protected:
1. Stay Vaccinated: Keep your vaccinations up to date to protect yourself against serious viral and bacterial infections effectively.
2. Maintain Hygiene: Wash your hands frequently, use a sanitiser where necessary and avoid touching your face with unclean hands.
3. Eat Safely: Always choose clean and well-cooked food and drink safe, filtered water to avoid infections.
4. Practice Safe Sex: Use condoms or dental dams during all forms of sex to prevent sexually transmitted infections.
5. Prevent Bug Bites: Wear protective clothing and use an insect repellent to avoid mosquito or tick-borne illnesses.
6. Avoid Contact When Sick: Stay home if you’re unwell and avoid close contact with those infected to stop the spread of infections.
Summing Up
Misunderstanding the difference between viral vs bacterial infections can lead to incorrect treatment, delayed recovery, and rising antibiotic resistance. But with careful monitoring of symptoms and the right diagnostic test, you can avoid guesswork and get fast, accurate answers for effective treatment.
FAQs
How Can You Tell For Sure If An Infection Is Viral Or Bacterial?
Only lab tests like blood counts, cultures, or PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) can tell you for sure whether an infection is viral or bacterial.4
What Are The 4 Common Symptoms Between Viral & Bacterial Infections?
Fever, cough, fatigue, and sore throat are common symptoms that can occur in both viral and bacterial infections.
What Is The Difference Between Bacteria And Virus Infection?
Bacterial infections are caused by single-celled organisms and can be treated with antibiotics, while viruses are acellular, need a host to multiply, and usually require antiviral treatment.