When does a viral infection become a bacterial infection?
Friday, September 25th, 2009 at
12:23 pm
I have had a cold for a week and am still coughing madly and blowing my nose every five minutes. My sinuses are painful and I can’t hear or taste anything. Do I now have a bacterial infection? Do I need to go to the doctor for some antibiotics or would they just say,’It’s a virus’?
Filed under: Bacterial Vaginosis
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maybe what you have is an allergic problem associated with sinusitis since your sinuses are painful.
you will know when you have a bacterial infection since your nasal disharge will turn yellow, thick in consistency and increase severity of your symptoms.
In viral, nasal disharge is usually white and wartery…which is also the case in allergic problem.
and a viral infection can turn into bacterial !!!
At first you have a viral infection..your immune defences are already low..more susceptible to infection and you get a secondary bacterial infection.
and thats when antibiotics are prescribed!
Ive had that virus so i know how awful you feel
I went to the doctors after 2 weeks and he said i had bronchitis so gave me some antibiotics
I’m still blowing my nose for hours but my cough is a bit better after a week of antibiotics so I suppose they have helped
You may as well go and see the doctor and get checked over, you want to be better for Christmas I’m sure :0)
Hope you feel better soon hun x
A viral infection does not turn into a bacterial infection. A viral infection is caused by a virus and a bacterial infection is caused by a bacteria. The medications used to treat these different conditions have different chemical components which target the specific cause. A cold is caused by a virus.
yes i would go to doctor, a virus can give rise to a bacterial infection . they may say it is a virus but if ur producing green or yellow thick mucus and sinuses are hurting then possibly an infection.sympathy with u, i had that recently. with xmas coming up i would personally get it checked in case u need antibiotics. meanwhile have u tried sudafed to try and clear it out this can help, if u have other health problems or taking any prescription medicine then check its ok for u to take with pharmacist. hope u feel better soon.
Antibiotics do not treat virus’
a virus can weaken your immune system – and leave you open to a bacterial infection, but a virus and a bacteria are entirely different things and one will not necessarily lead to the other
It’s likely that you are still suffering from the virus, and the only sensible treatment is rest and time
It can’t. Viral infections are just that, and cannot be treated by antibiotics. A viral infection should take 7-12 days to go with the help of your body’s natural defence mechanisms.
A viral infection and a bacterial infection are two different things…one does not turn into the other, but one can follow the other.
Hate to say this, but a good indicator that you might have a bacterial infection is the color of your nasal secretions. If you have yellow or green, there is probable bacterial infection. You probably ought to see a doctor in that instance. That’s when you’ll get the antibiotics (which kill bacteria, NOT viruses.)
I feel your pain, I get these sinus infections a lot…
a viral infection doesnt turn into a bacterial one or vice versa they are too different kinds of "infection" or rather infestation caused by 2 different types of organisms.
you have a cold (by the sounds of things what people refer to as a "head cold") the dr wont give you anything for it, try using cough sweets that work on clearing your nasal passages also(like halls soothers or lockets) and some cough mixture. you might want to try olbas oil also.
A viral infection is caused by a virus, a bacterial infection by a bacterium. What we call a "cold" is a viral infection, but many people also develope a bacterial infection, such as a chest infection, at the same time, due to their immune system being at a low ebb. Antibiotics only help with a bacterial infection.
By the sound of it, you "just" have a cold, it will go when it’s good and ready – often it’s 3 days coming, 3 days with you and 3 days going. You won’t cure it, but you can make yourself feel more comfortable with the many potions available out there. Best treatment is keep warm, rest and take plenty of fluids.