What Is the Difference Between a Bacterial and Viral Infection?

(Photo : What Is the Difference Between a Bacterial and Viral Infection?)

As the winter approaches, it's a time when a lot of people are thinking about holidays and planning for travel, but there's something else that might be lurking just around the corner-sicknesses. 

Sickness can come from bacteria or viruses, and the symptoms may look similar, but treatment and outcomes can be quite a bit different. 

While we do often associate the winter with more illnesses being passed around, you can get sick anytime of year from bacteria or viruses. For example, the next time you're filling your cup at a soda fountain you might want to rethink it. Soda fountains can harbor fecal bacteria, in fact. 

One report from ABCNews.com found that almost half of the beverages coming out of soda machines were contaminated with coliform bacteria. That indicates possible fecal contamination, so the machines were giving that bacteria out with the soda being dispensed. 

Along with the constant risk of different bacteria, wintertime can make certain viruses more prevalent such as the common cold, which is a viral infection and bronchiolitis. 

To arm you with information for this winter, the following are things to know about the differences in bacterial and viral infections and how they're treated. 

What Is a Bacterial Infection?

Bacterial infections come from different strains of bacteria, such as the fecal bacteria found in soda fountains, but there are many other sources of bacteria too. Bacteria live almost everywhere on the planet, and they live inside and outside our bodies. 

Most bacteria aren't harmful, and in our GI system, there are good bacteria that help with digestion, and they boost our immunity.

There are some harmful bacteria that can make us sick, however. 

Bacterial infection occurs when a certain harmful strain of bacteria collects inside of your body or on the surface of your body. It can affect anywhere, and it can be defined as gram-positive or gram-negative, based on the cell wall structure of the bacteria. 

Many of the bacterial infections that cause symptoms of illness are food-borne. Symptoms can include diarrhea, fever, chills, and abdominal pain. 

Foodborne bacteria that cause people to become sick in some cases include:

• Campylobacter jejune

• Clostridium botulinum

• E. coli

• Listeria monocytogenes

• Salmonella

• Vibrio

Bacterial infections can be sexually transmitted, also such as chlamydia and bacterial vaginosis. 

Other bacterial infections that commonly cause infections are bacterial meningitis, urinary tract infections, and respiratory tract infections like bronchitis. 

How Are Bacterial Infections Treated?

Some bacterial infections may go away without treatment, but in many cases, antibiotics are needed. Antibiotics work by stopping the processes that allow bacteria cells to grow. 

When someone takes antibiotics, they have to take the full course-otherwise, the infection may get worse. 

While antibiotics aren't used for the treatment of viruses, they might be used when someone has a viral illness to prevent what's described as a secondary bacterial infection when a person's immune system is weakened. 

There is some concern about the potential for antibiotic resistance. It can form when bacteria are no longer sensitive to medicines that should eliminate them. 

Around two million people in the United States get an antibiotic-resistant infection in the U.S. each year, and an estimated 23,000 die from complications or from the condition itself. 

What is a Virus?

A virus is something that needs a living host to multiply, and a virus can't survive without that. 

Viruses enter the body and invade cells to the point that it makes the cells produce the virus. 

Viruses are much smaller than bacteria, and sometimes viruses can not only make people sick but can also turn their cells into cancerous cells. Viruses can attack nearly any part of the body including the respiratory system, blood, and liver. 

Some of the viruses that tend to be especially prevalent during the fall and winter months include:

• The common cold is a viral infection and colds can actually be caused by different types of viruses

• Bronchiolitis is a viral respiratory infection that's usually only found in babies younger than 12 months

• The flu is one of the most troublesome and pervasive viral infections, and flu season kills many people. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, and symptoms can include high fever, headache, cough and more. It's recommended that everyone who is able gets the annual flu vaccine to protect against this virus.

• Croup often affects young children, and it tends to come on suddenly in the middle of the night. The defining characteristic of croup is that a child coughs, and it can sound like they're barking like a seal. It can also cause children to make a high-pitched sound when they breathe. 

Other viruses are:

• Herpes and cold sores

• Hepatitis

• Measles

• Shingles

• Smallpox 

When it comes to viruses, the best form of protection against many that are most common is vaccines. Some vaccines have completely eliminated certain diseases. 

With a vaccine, you receive a weakened form of the actual virus. Viruses also contain antigens that stimulate your body to create antibodies to fight off further infection by the same virus. 

There are some antiviral drugs available as well, and while they don't necessarily destroy the virus, they can slow down its progress. 

Antibiotics, however, are not effective against bacterial infections. 

How Are Bacteria and Viruses Diagnosed?

If you think you have either a bacterial or viral infection or your child might, you should contact your doctor. A doctor may even have a hard time determining whether your sickness is from viral or bacterial causes because many symptoms can be caused by either. 

Sometimes a distinction can be made by doing a blood or urine test or a culture test of tissue. In some cases, a biopsy may be required. 

So, what's the takeaway this cold and flu season? First, be vigilant about your health and doing your best to protect yourself against both viruses and bacteria with steps like handwashing and the appropriate vaccinations. Beyond that, if you do experience symptoms, speak with a healthcare professional right away.