10 Viral Infection Symptoms

By lio

Reviewed: dr. vanta

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'Viral vs Bacterial – What's the Difference?' HSC Public Health Agency, www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/viral-vs-bacterial-–-what's-difference.
• 2. 'Viral Infection | Viral Infection Symptoms.' MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 19 Oct. 2020, medlineplus.gov/viralinfections.html.
• 3. NHS Choices, NHS, hereforyouhampshire.nhs.uk/ColdOrFlu.html.
• 4. 'Viral Infections.' Sepsis Alliance, 18 Sept. 2020, www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/viral-infections/.
• 5. 'Is It a Bacterial Infection or Virus?' Duke Health, www.dukehealth.org/blog/it-bacterial-infection-or-virus.
• 6. 'Viral Meningitis.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 Aug. 2019, www.cdc.gov/meningitis/viral.html.

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Viruses and bacteria are both microscopic germs that can give a person sniffles. But while antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections, they don’t help treat viral infections. Treating most common viral infections, like the simple cold, involves a few days of rest, fluids and home remedies. With the overuse of antibiotics being a pressing medical issue, it’s helpful to know when an infection is probably viral.¹‘Viral vs Bacterial – What’s the Difference?’ HSC Public Health Agency, www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/viral-vs-bacterial-–-what’s-difference.

Viruses cause HIV, Ebola and the flu, but each presents with vastly different symptoms. Knowing some general common viral symptoms can help a person differentiate between viral and bacterial illnesses and help them realize when a viral infection needs medical attention.²‘Viral Infection | Viral Infection Symptoms.’ MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 19 Oct. 2020, medlineplus.gov/viralinfections.html.

1. High Temperature

One of the hallmarks of infection is a fever. A common symptom of the flu, a fever may be managed with extra fluids and over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Not every infection causes a fever, but the presence of fever and its grade are good indicators of the severity of the infection. Viral infections tend to cause lower fevers than bacterial infections. If a fever rises as the illness progresses, it may indicate the infection is bacterial in nature or a secondary infection is present, and antibiotics may be needed.⁵‘Is It a Bacterial Infection or Virus?’ Duke Health, www.dukehealth.org/blog/it-bacterial-infection-or-virus.