Virus or bacteria (infection, doctor, tonsils, treated)

[Coldjensens]

There is a general rule of thumb in determining whether a cold/bronchial infection is viral or bacterial. One of them almost always starts with a fever for a short time and then the fever goes away. However I cannot remember which is which. Does anyone know?

[UNITE]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

There is a general rule of thumb in determining whether a cold/bronchial infection is viral or bacterial. One of them almost always starts with a fever for a short time and then the fever goes away. However I cannot remember which is which. Does anyone know?

I'm gonna say viral. I think if it was bacterial, then it turns into pnemonia. I could be wrong. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on either count. Is it RVS? Respitory Viral Sysndrome. Hope you get better soon.

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[eddiek]

Both can start with fevers. The viral usually runs it course without medications in about 48 hours. Simple tactics like a gargling with salt water and forced fluids can help a viral infection.

A bacterial usually goes on until treated with antibiotics. The other thing is that is can disappear from the original point of infection, and appear somewhere else.

In throats, looking in can tell a few thins. If a person has white spots on the tonsils- get some antibiotics. It is usually a strep infection. Not always, but a test can be done in the doctor's office.