How to cure a bacterial infection. How to distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial one How is a bacterial infection treated

Viral and bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract have similar symptoms. Tests and clinical studies are the only way to accurately determine the type of infection, but they can be expensive and time consuming. However, there are minor differences between viral and bacterial infections. Some infections last longer than others and are accompanied by different colored mucus. If you are sick, stay at home and take care of your health. Get some rest and rejuvenate yourself.

Steps

Symptoms

Pay attention to the duration of the illness. Generally, viral infections last longer than bacterial ones. Feeling unwell lasts 1-3 days, then the condition begins to improve, but some symptoms may still persist. If symptoms persist for a week or longer, it could be a viral infection. It is necessary to carefully monitor the symptoms, and if they do not go away for some time, you should consult your doctor about taking antibiotics. A viral illness can develop into sinusitis or increase the risk of a middle ear infection, which increases the chance of a bacterial infection.

Pay attention to the color of the mucous secretions. When you blow your nose or cough up phlegm, look at the color of the discharge. Overcome possible disgust, because the color of the discharge can distinguish between viral and bacterial infections.

• Liquid and clear discharge usually corresponds to viral infections. Dark, greenish discharge is more common with bacterial infections.
• However, the color of the discharge cannot be a 100% indication of the type of infection. Other factors should also be taken into account.

1. Examine your throat. Sore throat occurs with both viral and bacterial infections. To determine whether antibiotics should be given immediately, doctors most often examine the throat. A certain type of throat indicates a bacterial infection. For example, white spots are usually caused by bacteria. If a sore throat is accompanied by other symptoms, such as a runny nose and sneezing, this may also indicate a bacterial (eg, streptococcal) infection.

   Pay attention to temperature. Both viral and bacterial infections can be accompanied by high fever. However, there are also some differences between different types infections. With bacterial infections, the temperature is usually higher. In the case of a bacterial infection, the temperature rises for several days, while in a viral infection, on the contrary, after a few days it decreases.

   Assess risk factors

   1. Weigh your chances of getting the flu. The flu is caused by a viral infection. If some of your work colleagues have the flu, remember that it is highly contagious. If you have recently come into contact with someone who has the flu, it is likely that the symptoms you are experiencing are caused by the flu.

      • Keep in mind that the flu is treatable if diagnosed early and treated within the first two days of the onset of symptoms. As soon as you experience the first symptoms of flu season, see your doctor without delay.

   2. Consider age. Young children are more susceptible to some viral infections. They are more likely to have upper respiratory tract infections. If your child has symptoms such as sore throat, sneezing and coughing, it is possible that he has an upper respiratory tract infection.

      • If you suspect your child has an upper respiratory tract infection, take him to the doctor.

   3. Think about the last time you had sinusitis. Sometimes an infection starts as a viral infection and then develops into a bacterial one. If you have recently had a viral infection, such as sinusitis, you may develop a secondary bacterial infection. If a second illness followed shortly after the first, it is most likely a bacterial infection.

      • In some cases, a bacterial infection may also be caused by another type of viral infection. If any illness lasts more than two weeks, you should consult a doctor.

   Health care

   1. If you experience certain symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Most viral and bacterial infections can be treated at home. However, in some cases, you should immediately consult a doctor. This is even more important if the child is experiencing these symptoms. Seek medical attention if you experience the following symptoms:

      • Infrequent urination (less than three times in 24 hours)
      • Labored breathing
      • The condition does not improve for 3-5 days
      • Worsening of symptoms, especially after some improvement.

   2. Take antibiotics for a bacterial infection. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and they are useless for viral infections. While doctors don't always prescribe antibiotics, even for bacterial infections, you may be given them if you have a serious infection.

   3. Try taking over-the-counter medications to help relieve pain. If a viral or bacterial infection is causing severe pain, talk to your pharmacist about medications that can help you. When taking medication, follow the instructions for use. Also ask your pharmacist if these medicines will interact with other medicines you take.

      • If you are prescribed antibiotics, ask your doctor if you can take over-the-counter pain relievers along with them.

   4. Get vaccinated against the flu. Get vaccinated to prevent getting the flu again. This is how you protect yourself from the flu virus. The flu is a viral infection, and viral infections can sometimes cause a bacterial infection. The flu shot will reduce the risk of viral and bacterial infections.

      • The flu shot will not protect you from all kinds of viruses and bacteria. It reduces the likelihood of the disease, but does not reduce it to zero.
      • Many are also vaccinated against pneumonia. Check with your doctor about this.
      • If you or your child has not received the standard vaccinations, tell your doctor. You may have a rare virus, in which case extra precautions will be required to protect others from infection.

Infections caused by small, single-celled microorganisms are called bacterial infections. Bacteria belong to a separate kingdom - prokaryotes, because they do not have a nucleus, and the genetic information is located in the cytoplasm. Bacteria are the oldest of all living organisms on earth. They can live in any environment.

Types of bacteria

Depending on the shape of the cell, there are:

• Cocci are spherical bacteria. These are meningococcus, staphylococcus, pneumococcus, streptococcus.
• Rod-shaped - bacteria resembling a straight or curved rod: E. coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, diphtheria bacillus and the causative agent of tetanus.
• Convoluted bacteria are spiral-shaped, corkscrew-shaped microorganisms that cause syphilis, leptospirosis.
• Shape-shifting bacteria lack a cell wall.
• Flagellates are able to move. A striking example is the causative agent of cholera.

Diseases caused by bacteria are especially dangerous due to the poisoning of the body by the poisons of these bacteria - toxins. These toxins cause inflammation and can damage internal organs person. While the bacteria are alive, they secrete exotoxins. Dead bacteria release endotoxins. If many bacteria die, an infectious-toxic shock develops, which causes the death of the organism.

Bacterial vs Viral Infection: What's the Difference?

Bacteria are very different from viruses:

• They are more than viruses;
• This is a complete living organism that just needs food to provide for and reproduce itself.

Until the 20th century, doctors fought bacterial infections in the same way as they did viral infections - they helped the body learn to fight the disease on its own. It turns out that in order to kill bacteria, you need to use special drugs - antibiotics and sulfonamides.

It is necessary to know the characteristics of both types in order to understand how to distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial one by symptoms.

The incubation period of the virus is 1-5 days. Bacterial can appear even after 2 weeks. The prodromal period of a viral infection is pronounced and lasts a day, in a bacterial one it goes unnoticed.

With a virus, the disease provokes a high, and often very rapidly rising temperature. Bacteria do not raise the temperature above 38 degrees. Otitis, sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia with meningitis are manifestations of bacterial damage. SARS are common symptoms.

Bacterial infections can be cured only with antibiotics, SARS they will not help. Here, antiviral drugs are needed during the prodrome.

Childhood bacterial infections

Once in the child's body, the bacteria quickly multiply and in the course of their life they begin to release toxins, which in turn affect the organs and form diseases:

• Measles;
• rubella;
• chickenpox;
• scarlet fever;
• Mumps.

The most dangerous bacterial intestinal infections. Microbes, getting into the body of a child, do not always manifest themselves in the form of a disease. Very often, an infected child does not show the disease and this is very dangerous.

After a child has been ill with a certain disease, a strong immunity is produced in his body.

A bacterium (group A streptococcus) causes an infection of scarlet fever through an airborne environment or objects (dishes, toys) of a sick person. The dangerous period is the first 2-3 days. The main symptoms of a bacterial infection in children are:

1. temperature rise to 39 degrees;
2. nausea or vomiting;
3. intoxication;
4. headache;
5. angina with edema;
6. white coating on the tonsils and tongue;
7. rashes (small dots on a red background). Treat bacterial diseases (and scarlet fever) with antibiotics. It is necessary to give the patient plenty of fluids to flush out toxins. Children who have been ill with scarlet fever acquire strong immunity.

Female bacterial infections

Women most often develop bacterial diseases associated with the urinary-genital system: vaginitis and vaginosis:

• Gardnerellosis;
• yeast infection;
• Trichomoniasis.

When the vaginal ecosystem changes, vaginitis appears. Its causes are varied: taking medications, frequent douching, infection during sexual contact.

Bacterial vaginosis is a change or imbalance of the bacteria present in the vagina in the correct amount.

Most often, bacterial infections develop in pregnant women, women who have intrauterine contraceptives and often douche.

A yeast infection (popularly called thrush) is “given” by the fungus Candida albicans (genital candiosis). Almost 75% of all women in the world have had such an infection at least once. Factors that provoke this disease:

• Prolonged use of antibiotics;
• Long-term use of contraceptives;
• Altered hormonal levels: pregnancy, menopause, vaginal cleansing, tampon injuries.

Bacterial infections in women have similar symptoms: discharge of different colors with a smell, itching and burning.

If a woman has bacterial vaginosis, then the white or gray discharge will have an unpleasant fishy smell. In this case, burning sensations are felt during urination or itching in the vaginal area.

If a yeast infection, the discharge is thick, white-gray, cheesy. The skin in the genital area is very itchy. There may also be pain during urination and sexual intercourse. There may or may not be divisions.

If the discharge is frothy, yellow-green or gray, it is sure sign trichomoniasis. Symptoms are similar to urinary tract infections.

How to treat bacterial infections?

If a bacterial disease is detected in a child, an antibiotic should be used so as not to start the disease and not have health problems. The action plan looks like this:

1. Visit to the doctor and diagnosis;
2. Quick purchase of medicines prescribed by a doctor;
3. Taking medications strictly according to the doctor's recommendations or according to the instructions enclosed in the package.

Self-medication should not take place.

Treating bacterial infections is difficult. Why? First, you have to confront numerous living organisms. Secondly, these organisms adapt surprisingly quickly, so scientists have to come up with new antibiotics. Bacteria mutate, so antibiotics may not work. Sometimes a lot of time passes before an antibiotic is selected that can kill this microbe. Thirdly, the same disease can be caused by different bacteria, which need to be fought with special methods - a certain antibiotic.

Antibiotics can enter the body in the form of tablets, intravenous and intramuscular injections. A certain category of antibiotics only delays the growth of bacteria (tetracycline, floramphenicol), while others destroy harmful fauna (penicillin, rifamycin, aminoglucosides).

Infections are of varying complexity. Certain infections require vaccination. For example, there is a whole system of vaccinating children against childhood diseases (especially tetanus and diphtheria), as well as travelers before traveling to an exotic country with no less exotic diseases.

In order not to become a victim of bacteria, it is necessary to take precautions. The most common measures to prevent bacterial infections are:

• Immunotherapy;
• Antibiotic therapy;
• Avoidance of being in crowded places;
• Hygiene.

It must be remembered that some people are allergic to a certain antibiotic - skin rashes. The doctor should prescribe an antibiotic with a similar effect.

If antibiotics are taken haphazardly, not as directed by a doctor, bacteria will become resistant to this drug and stop responding to it.

The reason for the development various diseases in adults and children, both various viruses and bacteria can appear. In fact, viral pathologies and bacterial infections have a lot in common, so it is important to diagnose the nature of the disease in time. This is due to the fact that the treatment of viral and bacterial diseases is carried out using various methods. It is important to know the signs of a bacterial infection, because it is treated with antibiotics.

Bacteria are microorganisms that have a specific cell structure. They have a poorly defined nucleus with various organelles that are covered with a membrane. Bacteria can be seen under a light microscope provided they are stained correctly.

In fact, bacteria are present in large numbers in environment, but not all of them pose a threat to human health. Certain types of bacteria live freely in the human body and do not cause any pathologies in it. Some bacteria can get to a person in various ways and provoke the development of complex diseases. The manifestation of certain symptoms is determined by the components of the bacterial cell. This means that living microbes release toxins that cause poisoning of the body as a result of disruption of its immune system.

common causative agent in childhood are conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, the place of localization of which is the respiratory organs.

Signs of a bacterial infection

The whole process of development of a bacterial disease can be divided into several stages, each of which is accompanied by the appearance of certain symptoms:

1. incubation period. At this stage, there is an active reproduction of bacteria and their preservation in the human body. Usually in the incubation period there is no appearance characteristic symptoms. Usually this period lasts from several hours to 2-3 weeks.
2. prodromal period. During this period, general symptoms of the disease appear, and usually the patient complains of general malaise and high temperature body.
3. The height of the disease, that is, there is an active development of the pathology and the infectious process reaches its peak.
4. The bacterial disease passes into the stage of cure and the patient's condition improves markedly.

Various bacteria that enter the human body may be accompanied by the appearance of different signs. The site of infection can be one organ or the entire body. In the event that a pathogenic microorganism enters the human body, this does not immediately cause the development of the disease. Infection usually occurs without the appearance of pronounced symptoms.

For a long time, an adult or a child can only be a carrier of infection, and many microorganisms live in the body for years and do not manifest themselves. Their active life can be caused by the impact on the body of such negative factors as severe hypothermia, stressful situations and infections of viral origin.

In children with the development of a bacterial infection in the body, the following symptoms may appear:

• rise in body temperature above 39 degrees
• bouts of nausea and vomiting
• severe intoxication of the body
• frequent headaches
• formation on the tonsils and tongue of white plaque
• the appearance of rashes of various nature

Bacterial infections often affect female body and cause the development of pathologies of the genitourinary system. In women, the following diseases can be detected:

• trichomoniasis
• yeast infection
• gardnerellosis

In the event that there is a change in the vaginal microflora, this causes the development of vaginitis. The cause of this pathological condition may be medicines for a long time, douching and penetration of infection into the female body during intercourse. Bacterial infections in women are accompanied by the appearance of the following symptoms:

• various colors and textures
• development of itching and burning sensations
• pain during
• discomfort during intercourse

With the development of a disease such as trichomoniasis, a woman may experience discharge that is colored yellow-green or gray.

Diagnostic methods

The main method for detecting infections of this nature in children and adults is to conduct. For research, a material is taken from a patient, which contains bacteria.

In the event that there is a suspicion of a pathology of the upper respiratory tract, then a sputum analysis is performed.

After this, the material for research is placed in a special environment, after which the result is evaluated. Thanks to this study, it is possible not only to identify bacteria, but also to determine their sensitivity to antibacterial drugs.

A patient with a suspected bacterial infection is carried out, and such an analysis is one of the important ones.

The fact is that the progression of a bacterial infection in the patient's body is accompanied by an increase in the level due to an increase in the number of neutrophils. Usually, with bacterial diseases, an increase in the number of stab neutrophils is noted, and metamyelocytes and myelocytes may also increase.All this leads to the fact that there is a decrease in the relative level of white blood cells, but quite high.

Features of treatment

When diagnosing bacterial infections in children, treatment is carried out with the help of antibacterial drugs. Thanks to them, it is possible to prevent the progression of pathology and avoid health problems. It should be remembered that the treatment of bacterial infections is carried out only under the supervision of the attending physician, and it is best to refuse any self-medication.

Treatment of bacterial infections is not so easy, because the body has to resist a large number of microorganisms. Bacteria adapt too quickly to the conditions of existence and it is necessary to invent new drugs. Bacteria can mutate, so many antibacterial drugs may not work on them.

In addition, the development of the same disease can be caused by various bacteria, which can only be eliminated with the help of a certain antibacterial agent.

Usually, complex therapy is used to combat bacterial infections, which includes:

• Elimination of the cause of the pathology with the help of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibacterial drugs.
• Cleansing the patient's body of toxins that accumulate during the progression of the infection. In addition, it is important to heal the organs that have been damaged by the infection.
• Carrying out symptomatic treatment to alleviate the patient's condition and reduce the severity of symptoms. In case of infection of the upper respiratory organs, cough preparations are prescribed, and for gynecological diseases, local antibiotics are indicated.

Useful video - How to distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial one:

In the treatment of bacterial infections, antibiotics can be taken in the form of tablets, and also injected into the body intramuscularly. Bacterial growth can be inhibited by:

• Tetracycline
• Chloramphenicol

You can destroy the harmful fauna with the help of such antibiotics as:

• Penicillin
• Rifamycin
• Aminoglycosides

Among penicillins, the following antibacterial drugs are considered the most effective:

• Amoxicillin
• Amoxicar
• Augmentin
• Amoxiclav

Today, thanks to antibacterial treatment, it is possible to get rid of various kinds infections. It is important to remember that only a specialist should prescribe drugs, since bacteria can develop resistance to drugs. It is necessary to resort to taking antibacterial drugs at the very beginning of the development of the disease, which will prevent the spread of infection throughout the body and speed up the healing process.

Taking antibacterial drugs in the fight against bacteriological infections can cause irreversible changes in the body. In addition, some patients are prone to developing allergic reactions to certain antibiotics and this must be taken into account when prescribing the medication.In order to prevent the penetration of bacterial infections into the human body, it is recommended that certain precautions be observed. To do this, you must observe hygiene, avoid being in places with large crowds of people, and also increase the defenses of your body.

Update: October 2018

Probably, every representative of the weaker sex at least once during her life met with such a disease as bacterial vaginosis of the vagina. This unpleasant companion is not so much dangerous for its manifestations as for complications, the appearance of which can provoke.

But this disease acquires the greatest danger during pregnancy, therefore, it requires maximum rehabilitation of the vaginal microflora and the restoration of normal microbiocenosis.

What is this disease?

Speaking of a similar disease - bacterial vaginosis, they mean a nonspecific inflammatory syndrome, in which the microbiocenosis of the vagina changes significantly in quantitative terms towards an increase in opportunistic microflora due to anaerobic bacteria and a decrease in lactic acid bacteria or Doderlein sticks.

Other names for the disease are gardnerellosis, vaginal dysbacteriosis, or anaerobic vaginosis. Considering that a variety of microorganisms is observed in this process, the name "bacterial" is quite justified. However, the absence of signs of an inflammatory reaction (leukocytes) in smears, the term "vaginitis" has changed to "vaginosis". The disease occurs in 15 - 80% of cases.

Classification of vaginal dysbacteriosis

According to the severity in vaginal dysbacteriosis, there are:

• compensated or 1 degree(there are no microflora in the smear, epithelial cells are present without changes and the possibility of infection with other pathogenic microorganisms remains);
• subcompensated or 2 degree(the content of Doderlein sticks decreases, gram-negative and gram-positive flora increases, there are from 1 to 5 "key" cells, a slight increase in leukocytes - up to 15 - 25);
• decompensated or 3 degree(no lactic acid bacteria, there is clinical picture diseases, "key" cells entirely, various pathogenic and facultative or opportunistic microorganisms).

Along the course, acute, torpid or erased and asymptomatic vaginal dysbacteriosis is distinguished.

Causes and mechanism of development of vaginal dysbacteriosis

It is known that the vagina is inhabited by lactobacilli or lactic acid bacteria (Doderlein sticks), whose function is to process glycogen and synthesize lactic acid from it, which creates an acidic environment, thus inhibiting the reproduction of facultative and pathogenic microflora.

Among other things, Doderlein sticks also produce hydrogen peroxide, providing a disinfecting effect. In the case of a decrease in the content of Doderlein sticks, the acidic environment (3.8 - 4.5) of the vagina shifts to the alkaline side, thus provoking the growth of opportunistic microorganisms.

If in the normal vaginal microflora lactic acid bacteria are in the amount of 95% or more of all microorganisms, then the remaining percentages are opportunistic flora (bacteroids, peptococci, staphylococcus and others).

The causes of bacterial vaginosis are not the reproduction of any one opportunistic microorganism, but the association of microbes. These include primarily gardnerella, mobilincus and mycoplasma. With this disease, the number of anaerobic (not requiring oxygen) bacteria mainly increases.

Provoking factors

All factors that contribute to the occurrence of the disease can be divided into 2 groups:

Endogenous or acting from within

• Vitamin C

At the same time, vitamin C is prescribed (1 tablet three times a day), which not only stimulates the immune system, but also improves tissue regeneration, reduces the permeability of vascular walls, resulting in a decrease in fluid transudation into the vagina.

• Vaginal instillations

Also, the first stage of therapy includes vaginal instillations of 2% milk or boric acid once a day during the week. Such manipulations contribute to the creation of an acidic environment, which is unfavorable for the reproduction of anaerobes.

• You should also take antiallergic drugs (suprastin, tavegil, see).

Restoration of microflora

At the second stage, the use of biological preparations (intravaginal administration) begins. Apply apilak, acylact, bifidumbacterin, lactobacterin and others. To do this, 2-3 doses are diluted with 5 ml of boiled water, a swab is soaked with the resulting solution and administered intravaginally twice a day (after 10-12 hours). The duration of treatment is 7 - 10 days.

You can use candles:

• Bifidumbacterin (live bifidobacteria) 1 suppository 2 r / day for 5-10 days.
• Bifikol (dried bifidobacteria) 7-10 days.
• Atsilakt 10 days (110 rubles).
• Laktozhinal (450 rubles), Vagilak (500 rubles) lactobacilli, 1 vaginal capsule for 10 days in the morning and evening.

Treatment of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy

How to treat bacterial vaginosis in case of pregnancy? In the first trimester of gestation, systemic therapy for the disease is not performed (metronidazole and other agents are toxic to the embryo). Local administration of etiotropic drugs on early dates applied with caution.

Metronidazole or clindamycin is started from the second trimester and is carried out in short courses. Metronidazole 0.5 gr. (2 tablets) twice a day for 3-5 days, and clindamycin is prescribed at a dosage of 0.3 g. 2 times a day for 5 days.

Prevention measures

To prevent frequent relapses of the disease, promiscuous sexual intercourse should be excluded, and condoms should be used in case of casual sexual intercourse. It is also necessary to strengthen the immune system, correct hormonal imbalance and endocrine diseases, undergo medical examinations by a gynecologist at least 2 times a year.

To strengthen local immunity, the Solko-Trichovac vaccine has been used, the introduction of which is carried out intramuscularly, 3 times in 2 weeks. A year later, a single revaccination is carried out. The introduction of the vaccine creates immunity from vaginal dysbacteriosis for 2 years.