Bacterial and Viral Infections

Information compliments WebMD

Both are spread by:

• A person with a cold can spread the infection by coughing or sneezing.

• Can be passed on by touching or shaking hands with infected person.

• Touching food with dirty hands will also allow viruses or bacteria from the intestine to spread.

• Body fluids can contain the infecting organisms and transmission of such fluids can spread them, especially viruses.

A few ways to avoid contamination• Wash your hands thoroughly (often one of the

best ways to avoid catching a cold).• Shaking hands with someone who has a cold is

risky, so avoid rubbing your eyes or nose afterwards.

• Food should be cooked or cooled down as quickly as possible.

• Vegetables and meat must be stored separately and prepared on separate chopping boards.

Bacterial and viral infections, can cause mild, moderate, and severe diseases.

Bacterial• Bubonic plague • Strep throat• Scarlet fever• Pneumonia• Tuberculosis• Salmonella• E-coli

Viral• Common cold• Sinusitus• Bronchiolitis • West Nile Virus• Rabies• Chicken pox• Small pox

The Differences Between Bacteria and VirusesAlthough bacteria and viruses are both too small

to be seen without a microscope, they're as different as giraffes and goldfish.

Bacteria• Bacteria are relatively complex, single-celled

creatures. They can reproduce on their own. Fossilized records show that bacteria have existed for about 3.5 billion years, and bacteria can survive in different environments, including extreme heat and cold, radioactive waste, and the human body.

Most bacteria are harmless, and some actually help by digesting food, destroying disease-causing microbes, fighting cancer cells, and providing essential nutrients. Fewer than 1% of bacteria cause diseases in people.

Caution on taking antibiotics:The discovery of antibiotics for bacterial infections is considered one of the most important breakthroughs in medical history. Unfortunately, bacteria are very adaptable, and the overuse of antibiotics has made many of them resistant to antibiotics. This has created serious problems, especially in hospital settings.

VirusA virus is a microscopic organism that can replicate only inside the cells of a host organism.

Most viruses are so tiny they are only observable with at least a conventional optical microscope. 

Viruses infect all types of organisms, including animals and plants, as well as bacteria and archaea.

Virus Treatment• The treatment of virus infections is usually left up to the

patient's own immune system.

• Vaccines have been developed against most viral diseases. The vaccine gives the body some help in quickly and effectively fighting the virus.

• Antibiotics have no effect upon viral infections such as colds or flu.

• The treatment of virus infections, such as influenza, will usually involve: drinking plenty of water.