We often get fever, cold, cough. Sometimes we also get stomach aches, diarrhea, etc. At times like these, we often think, "Oh... this is a virus." But it doesn't always have to be a virus. Sometimes it can be a bacterial infection. So what is the difference between these two, bacteria and viruses? How do we recognize them? Let's talk about this exactly, simply, today.
Common symptoms of bacterial and viral infections
Both types of infections have several things in common. Both are caused by microorganisms that we cannot see with our eyes. Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria, and viral infections are caused by viruses. Both types can spread in the same way.
- When coughing and sneezing.
- When you have close contact with an infected person (especially through kissing and sexual contact).
- From contaminated surfaces, food, and water.
- From pets, farm animals, and insects like fleas and ticks.
These microorganisms can also cause various types of infections:
- Acute infections: These get better in a few days, a week or two.
- Chronic infections: These can last for weeks, months, or even a lifetime.
- Latent infections: These may not show symptoms initially, but may recur months or years later.
Most importantly, both bacterial and viral infections can cause mild, moderate, and severe illness.
What is the biggest difference between bacteria and viruses?
Although both bacteria and viruses are too small to see without a microscope, there is a big difference between the two, like a giraffe and a goldfish.
Bacteria
Simply put, bacteria are relatively complex organisms made up of a single cell. They can live on their own, dividing and multiplying without the help of another organism. They have a history that goes back about 3.5 billion years. They can survive even under harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme heat, extreme cold, and radioactive waste.
But not all bacteria are as bad as we think. Most bacteria are harmless. Some bacteria help us digest food, destroy other germs that cause disease, fight cancer cells, and even provide us with nutrients. In fact, less than 1% of bacteria cause disease in humans .
Viruses
Viruses are much smaller than bacteria. They only have a protein coat and genetic material (RNA or DNA) inside. Unlike bacteria, viruses cannot live on their own. They need another living cell (host) to survive and infect.
What a virus does is it enters a healthy cell in our body, takes control of that cell, and uses that cell to make thousands of other viruses like itself. Eventually, that cell bursts and dies, but the newly formed viruses are released and invade other cells.
Unlike bacteria, many viruses cause disease and are very specific about the type of cells they attack. For example, some viruses attack liver cells, while others attack cells in the respiratory system.
Can you distinguish between the two based on symptoms?
The symptoms of both bacterial and viral infections can be very similar.
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Body pain and limping
These symptoms are actually our immune system's way of trying to get rid of the infectious agent that has entered the body. Although the symptoms are similar, these two types of infections are different in many ways, such as how they respond to medication. So it's hard to tell for sure whether it's a bacteria or a virus just by looking at the symptoms.
Common bacterial and viral infections
Let's take a look at the common infections we face in our lifetime.
| Common bacterial infections | Common viral infections |
|---|---|
| For the respiratory system:
For the digestive system:
To the nervous system:
|
How does a doctor diagnose this exactly?
If you suspect you have a bacterial or viral infection, be sure to see your doctor. Something as minor as a common cold is nothing to worry about.
Because some illnesses, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and diarrhea, can be caused by both bacteria and viruses, it's sometimes hard to tell exactly what's causing it. But your doctor can get an idea by taking your medical history and doing a physical exam.
If necessary, you may be asked to take a blood test, urine test, or culture test to confirm the diagnosis. These tests can help determine whether the infection is caused by bacteria or a virus.
How is it treated? Is there a difference between the two?
Yes, the treatment for these two types of infections is completely different.
Treatment of bacterial infections
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. This is a very important discovery in medicine.
But here's something very important for all of us to remember: Antibiotics don't work on viruses!
Unfortunately, because we use antibiotics when they are not needed and without the advice of a doctor, some bacteria have now become resistant to those drugs (antibiotic resistance). This has become a serious health problem in the world today.
Treatment of viral infections
Treating viral infections is a bit challenging because viruses live inside our own cells.
- Vaccines: Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent many viral diseases. Vaccines help protect us from diseases like measles, polio, mumps, hepatitis B, and HPV.
- Antiviral medications: There are antiviral medications for some viral diseases like herpes, HIV/AIDS, and influenza. However, these should only be used under the advice of a doctor.
Antibiotics are of no use for viral infections. They only kill the good bacteria in our bodies and create antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, it is wise to avoid using antibiotics unless there is clear evidence that the infection is bacterial.
Take-Home Message
- The symptoms of both bacterial and viral infections can be similar, so don't judge which infection you have based on symptoms alone.
- Bacteria are cells that can live on their own. A virus is a microorganism that needs another living cell to survive and spread.
- Antibiotics only work against bacterial infections. They have no effect on viruses.
- Never take antibiotics on your own without a doctor's recommendation. If your doctor prescribes medication, be sure to take it for the full prescribed period.
- The best way to protect yourself from many serious viral diseases is to get vaccinated.
- If you have any doubts about the illness you have, if your symptoms are severe, or if you do not improve within a few days, please see your doctor.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න