How to distinguish viral infection from bacterial

The question of how to distinguish viral from bacterial infection is acute in the diagnosis, since precise definition of the pathogen can be vital to initiate a proper and successful treatment of bacterial or viral infection in children and adults. It is necessary to take into account the fact that viral infection/ bacterial infection in children, as symptoms of viral infection/ signs of bacterial infection in pediatric generation may be different from what can occur with a viral disease or bacterial disease in the adult population. A good example would be the definition of the difference between, for example, SARS (respiratory disease) from bacterial tonsillitis, despite the fact that a particular symptom (or set of symptoms), especially in the beginning of the SARS, can have a manifestation similar to what is tonsillitis, but not viruses, antibiotics are used because they are against these pathogens ineffective.

The same applies to major manifestations. So, headache with a viral infection, as well as high temperature, do not differ from bacterial infection.

At first glance it seems that viral and bacterial infection the child and the adult are no different. However, there are differences and they are significant. For example, treatment of a bacterial infection requires otherwise (antibiotics) than viral, in particular, SARS, which is recommended mainly bed rest and plenty of fluids.

Thus, the question of how to define, recognize and subsequently to cure diseases such as viral and bacterial infection, acute.

First of all, you should learn how can be manifested viral disease (as far as he's contagious) and what are the signs of viral infection, particularly SARS.

Warning! This article is only a guideline. To determine the virus or bacteria that needs attending. He makes a decision about how to treat the disease (antibiotics to enter or not). Regardless of the causative agent of the disease, the infected person should not attempt to move the disease! Remember when SARS antibiotics, in most cases, do not work, and lack of treatment the problem may appear again.

A fundamental fact in how to distinguish bacterial infection from viral, is the difference between bacteria and viruses in size, nucleic acids, anatomy, morphology, and metabolic activity. As a rule, bacteria more than viruses. The size of bacterial cells is in the range from several microns to micrometer. Viral particles, compared with them, less, of the order of a few nanometers or microns. The bacterial cell has both NC (nucleic acids), DNA and RNA, viral particles – only one (either DNA or RNA). The virus is not a cell. Unlike bacterial cells, the virus has no metabolic activity and proliferation of life needs a living cell host. The viruses are grown in cultures of living cells (replication of the virus occurs inside the cell) at that time, as bacteria can grow on soil nutrients.

Characteristics of viral infection

Incubation period

It ranges from 1 to 5 days, depending on the pathogen. At this time begin to show the first signs of illness, such as cough, runny nose, fever.

Prodromal phase

This period is characterized by phenomena such as mood change and fatigue.

Initial phasediseases

Viral infection develops quickly and is characterized by bright symptoms. Comes to a sharp rise in temperature until heat, severe cold, headache, cough... These symptoms, however, are not mandatory – sometimes there may be local characteristics. Often there are allergic reactions affecting the eyes or the nose.

A viral infection usually lasts for about weeks.

Treatment

Rest, intake of antiviral drugs, enough of the liquid. Not recommended antibiotic drugs, as they not only effective for viruses but can also cause complications.

Characterization of a bacterial infection

Incubation period

This period in the case of the presence of bacteria as the causative agent has many more range than when the virus from 2 days to 2 weeks.

Prodromal phase

In more cases, it is not.

The initial phase of the disease

In bacterial infection, mainly, no heat (if the temperature rises, not above 38). In addition, unlike viral diseases, bacterial is characterized by the localization of manifestations (sinusitis, otitis...). Allergic manifestations are absent.

Treatment

Usually, an antibiotic is prescribed.

General properties of bacteria

Bacteria belong to the region Prokaryotae. Their cells do not have nucleus and nuclear membrane. What matters is the classification of bacteria. Its purpose is to organize bacteria into groups (taxa). The basic taxonomic unit is the species. The types are a set of bacterial strains that share constant characteristics and differ significantly from other strains (groups). A bacterial strain is called a population arising from a single microbial cell.

The size and shape of bacteria

Size of bacteria ranges from micrometer to micrometer is observed at the maximum magnification of optical microscope. Most pathological bacteria has a size of 1-3 nm, but their size also affects the nutrient quality of the soil.

Spherical (called cocci) – if they form colonies, it is further divided into diplococci (colonies composed of two cells), tetraconch (four cells in a colony), Streptococcus (chain colony), staphylococci (racemose colony) and sartini (cubic colony).

The cane shape (bacilli or rods) – these bacteria can gather in colonies of two (diplobacillus) or in chains (has streptobacillus), and also to form Palisades.

The curved shape is thus formed bacteria do not form colonies and Vibrio (short, slightly curved rods), spirilli (slightly wavy stripes) or spirochetes (helical rods).

Fibrous form threadlike colonies.

Extensive form – the creation of signs of branches or complete branches. The second group can create bacterial mycelium.

Bacterial spores

Some types of G + soil bacteria respond to certain changes in the environment (e.g., dryness, loss of nutrients) sporulation. Important in medicine are the genera Bacillus and Clostridium. Form, size and storage of spores are essential for the detection of spore-forming bacteria. For sporulation cells it is important the presence of ions of calcium and magnesium. After creating the dispute the parent cell splits and the spores are released into the environment. If they land in favorable conditions, germinate and create a full plant cell. Spores are highly resistant to temperature, UV radiation, desiccation, disinfectants (sporicidal are, for example, formaldehyde, some iodine preparations).

The basic characteristics of viruses

Viruses are somewhere on the border between living and nonliving organisms. They contain only one type of nucleic acid, DNA or RNA. The multiplication is performed in such a way that a host cell treats the viral genetic information as their own. Viruses do not reproduce on their own, they are propagated cells hosaini. So, basically, viruses spread (copied) only in living cells. For their cultivation in the laboratory, you must have a live culture of cells. Viruses do not contain enzymes, or only a few enzymes necessary to penetrate and initiate activity of the affected cells.

Virion is a viral particle. The nucleocapsid is a kernel. It is, in fact, on the nucleic acid and capsid, the virus is "storage". Viral envelope usually form proteins and lipoproteins.

The size and shape of viruses

The small viruses include picornaviruses with sizes of 20-30 nm. On the other hand, the largest are poxvirus and the herpes virus. Viruses can only be observed in the electron microscope, where they look like crystals. They are divided by the type of capsid and type of NDT. Cubic capsids have, for example, adenoviruses and parvoviruses. Cubic capsid shell has a cytomegalovirus. There are also no virusescoating, for example, poxvirus.

Separation of viruses by type NK

RNA viruses with sheath – retroviruses, coronaviruses, paramyxoviruses.

RNA viruses without the shell – picornavirus.

DNA viruses with sheath – herpesviruses.

DNA viruses without shell adenoviruses, parvoviruses, poxviruses, parvoviruses.

The most important viral diseases in humans

Viruses cause a large number of serious infectious diseases. Against some of these diseases has an effective vaccine was developed by drugs, purposefully blocking a viral enzyme.

Viral disease has not the slightest influence of antibiotic treatment. The excessive use of antibiotics, on the contrary, positively affects the creation of resistant viral strains.

The most common ailment is the common cold caused by rhinoviruses, coronaviruses or influenza virus.

The most common diseases include:

1. The flu (influenza virus).
2. Colds, fever, catarrh or inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (rhinoviruses, coronaviruses).
3. Herpes (herpes simplex virus).
4. Rubella (rubella virus).
5. Measles.
6. Poliomyelitis (polio).
7. Mumps.
8. Viral hepatitis "jaundice" (hepatitis A, b, C, D, E, F, G and H – we are talking about different viruses that affect the liver the most common are types A, b and C, of which type B and C can cause liver cancer).
9. Human papillomavirus infection (warts, some genotypes are also the cause of cervical cancer).
10. Rabies (rabies virus, if not timely filed antiserum is 100% fatal).
11. AIDS (HIV, human immunodeficiency virus).
12. Smallpox (smallpox virus).
13. Chickenpox (a herpesvirus, type 3 causes shingles).
14. Fever, infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus).
15. Hemorrhagic fever (Ebola, Marburg, and others).
16. Encephalitis.
17. SARS.
18. Gastroenteritis.
19. Clamidiosis.

    

Conclusion

As can be seen from the suggested above, there are significant differences between a bacterium and a virus, respectively, between bacterial and viral infection. They are not only in the nature of the disease, its course and accompanying individual symptoms or groups of symptoms, but also in therapeutic methods.

Anatomical and physiological differences between the microorganisms require a different approach to the treatment of diseases caused by them. The correct definition of the source of infection is essential to implement appropriate treatment.

More rare, but at the same time, dangerous are diseases caused by bacteria. It is more often causes serious, often lifelong health complications. Therefore, the definition of the type of disease should be entrusted to a specialist who will not only identify the cause of disease and prescribe the most suitable treatment method.

Remember that self-medication for an inexperienced person is unacceptable!