How is a viral cold different from a bacterial cold? What is the difference in treatment? See what Escapees pharmacists have to say:

1. The pathogens are different:

The pathogens that cause viral colds are viruses, such as rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, influenza viruses, parainfluenza viruses, and syncytial viruses;

The pathogens that cause bacterial colds to cause are bacteria, such as S. pneumoniae, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, H. influenzae, and Mycoplasma.

2. Different blood test results:

Viral colds: lymphocytes or monocytes are often elevated. The total number of white blood cells is low or normal.

Bacterial colds: white blood cells and neutrophils are often elevated.

3, viral colds, if the resistance is strong, often can be self-cured, usually 3 to 7 days; bacterial colds are: if not treated in time, will lead to bronchitis, pneumonia, etc., bacterial colds can be transformed from viral colds, or the beginning of a bacterial cold.

4. Epidemic viral respiratory infections are characterized by a marked group morbidity; whereas bacterial respiratory infections are more common in sporadic cases.

5. Simple viral respiratory infections tend to have no purulent secretions, while purulent sputum is important evidence of bacterial infection.

6, viral upper respiratory tract infections generally nasal runny symptoms than pharyngeal symptoms obvious; and bacterial upper respiratory tract infections are more obvious tonsils or pharyngeal redness, swelling and pain.

7, on the upper respiratory tract infections with fever symptoms, viral infections with antipyretic drugs can achieve temporary and obvious antipyretic effect; but bacterial infections take antipyretic drugs are less effective.

8. The systemic symptoms of viral infection can be mild or severe; while the systemic symptoms of bacterial infection are relatively severe. If the fever is not high at the beginning, and the condition worsens after 2-3 days, it is mostly bacterial infection.

Differences in the treatment of viral and bacterial colds:

Common viral cold:Symptomatic treatment, the dialectical use of antiviral Chinese (adult) medicine is conducive to shorten the course of the disease, with antiviral effects of proprietary Chinese medicines, such as: Pu Dilan anti-inflammatory tablets, blue scutellaria oral solution, Chaiyin oral solution, Yin Qiao detoxification pills (tablets), Panlangen Chongtian, Qingkailing oral solution, Shuanghuanglian oral solution, Dazhengye oral solution, antiviral oral solution, compound Yinhuang oral solution, Lianhua Qingzhengdui capsules, and so on.

Epidemic viral colds:Amantadine, oseltamivir, etc. Antiviral drugs are more effective when taken early (recommended within 36 hours of flu symptoms).

Bacterial colds:For common pathogens selection of antimicrobial drugs such as amoxicillin, two, three generations of cephalosporin or azithromycin, etc., if necessary, pathogen detection, in order to take targeted treatment, such as mycoplasma infections should be selected azithromycin, shall not be selected cephalosporin or penicillin, because cephalosporin or penicillin class of drugs on mycoplasma is ineffective.

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Cold is short for acute upper respiratory tract infection, which is an acute inflammation of the nose, throat or larynx caused by viruses or bacteria.

Colds include viral colds, which are caused by viral infections, and bacterial colds, which are caused by bacteria; most common colds are caused by viruses and a few by bacterial infections.

Rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, parainfluenza viruses and respiratory syncytial viruses can cause the common cold.

Influenza A, B, and C viruses can cause influenza.

The difference between the two is:

1. Influenza often starts sharply, accompanied by generalized pain, fatigue, runny nose, cough, diarrhea, conjunctival congestion and other symptoms, infectious.

Influenza sometimes has a high fever; it is highly contagious and often affects many people at the same time.

Bacterial colds are mostly sporadic, with irregular onset; high fever with chills, and purulent discharge is more common, the surface of the tonsils is uneven, dark or pus spots and the pharynx is red, swollen and painful, or there is pus and sputum, and other symptoms.

Common viral colds have mild symptoms, but their sites of infection can be complicated by bacterial infections.

If a cold is left untreated, it further develops into tonsillitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis and other diseases.

2. Influenza virus invasion of the lower respiratory tract can cause infectious diseases of the lungs; and can be secondary to Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia, as well as viral, bacterial mixed pneumonia; can also be complicated by toxic myocarditis, encephalitis, etc..

3. If there is no complication of viral cold, the systemic toxicity symptoms are light; after taking antipyretic drugs, the fever will go down more quickly, and the systemic symptoms will be lightened immediately after the fever goes down, but it is easy to repeat the fever. Bacterial colds have more severe symptoms of systemic poisoning.

4. Bacterial infection if the patient has an increase in the total number of white blood cells and percentage of neutrophils and/or a significant increase in C-reactive protein;

Leukocytes and neutrophils tend to be in the normal range in viral infections, and C-reactive protein usually does not exceed 50 mg/L.

Colds are mostly self-limiting. Mild uncomplicated colds, including simple influenza, can recover on their own; severe cases or those with other illnesses combined with colds (influenza) can lead to complications, and in severe cases, may even lead to death.

Treatment:

1. Symptomatic supportive treatment, pay attention to rest, diet should be nutritious and easy to digest, drink more water, avoid cold and exertion; fever and generalized pain can use antipyretic and analgesic, children prohibited aspirin, so as to avoid the occurrence of Reye's syndrome.

2. If accompanied by a cough, take cough suppressants and phlegm removers.

3... Early administration of antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir if influenza is present.

4... Prevent complications; antimicrobials are not needed for viral and mild bacterial colds.

Prevention:

1. Isolate the source of infection and strengthen ventilation and air disinfection in public places.

2. Keep up physical exercise and vaccinate susceptible people.

3. Immunocompromised or frail adolescents and adults can use oseltamivir for prophylaxis during the influenza A and B epidemic season.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Diagnosis and Treatment.

Motherland medicine has a comprehensive understanding of colds and a wealth of experience in treating them; traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a good therapeutic effect on colds.

The common cold is also known as cold, mostly feel the seasonal gas or non-temporal evil; influenza sense is also known as seasonal cold, refers to the infectious seasonal epidemics invade the human body and cause disease.

The treatments include pungent-cooling method of relieving epidemics, pungent-warming method of relieving epidemics, benefiting qi and relieving epidemics, clearing summer heat and removing dampness and relieving epidemics; relieving epidemics and clearing the li, nourishing yin and relieving epidemics; clearing heat and removing toxins, promoting the lungs, and resolving phlegm.

Thanks for reading.

Of course there is a difference. The symptoms of a cold, whether viral or bacterial, are nothing more than a runny nose, sore throat, cough, etc. I'm afraid there's not much difference in the symptoms of...But the difference in treatment is boss.

1、What is easy to catch a cold

Let's start with subjective factors. Many people are "naturally" susceptible to colds and flu, usually because their immune systems are not strong enough.A cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract, which means that bacteria or viruses enter the body through the respiratory tract, then multiply in the body, multiply in large numbers and then leave the upper respiratory tract and enter the bloodstream, following the bloodstream all over the body. If a person's immune system is not strong enough, he or she will easily catch a cold under the same circumstances. So, exercise more, young man.

Plus objective factors. A person's body temperature is lowered and the gaps in the epithelial cells are enlarged, making them susceptible to entry by bacteria or viruses.In the past, a cold was not called a cold, it was usually called "catching a cold" or "freezing", which is empiricism, that is to say, one time when we went out and didn't bother to put on a coat, we were frozen, and then we had a runny nose, a fever, and a cough. Bacteria or viruses are everywhere in the air, and under normal conditions they are blocked from the body by our nasal mucosa, but if we wear less clothing, our body temperature decreases, and the gap between the epithelial cells expands, bacteria can easily take advantage of the opportunity to enter. So to prevent colds, drinking a winter's worth of Banlangen is not necessarily more effective than keeping warm or wearing a mask.

2. Why is it important to know whether it is caused by a virus or a bacterium?

The reason it must be known, is that bacteria can be killed by antibiotics, whereas viruses won't.So when it comes to medication, you need to be guided whether it is a bacterial infection or a viral infection.If you say you can't carry on after a cold and want to take some medicine to control it at your own risk, you have to take antibiotics and antivirals together to be able to do so, regardless of whether it's a bacterial infection or a viral infection. If you have a bacterial infection, take some antibiotics; if you have a viral infection, take some antivirals, then don't take antibiotics, but to be honest, there are no strong and effective antiviral drugs. Generally speaking, no matter whether it is a viral infection or bacterial infection, without medication will carry through, normal people's own immune system is fully capable of clearing the task of foreign bodies, and the immune system can not be pampered, more carry a carry the immune system will be strong, the next time the resistance will be on the next level.

3. How do you know if a cold is caused by a virus or bacteria?

The necessity of separating viruses and bacteria was stated above, so how can you do it. None other than a blood test.You can't tell the difference just by looking at the symptoms. Go to the hospital and have a blood test done to check the white blood cell count. A high white blood cell count is bacterial and a constant or low white blood cell count is viral. There is a simpler way, but of course it only works during a flu outbreak, and that is that most doctors know what is causing the flu.

Zhao Wei, National Level 2 Public Dietitian, welcome to follow.

Chao Yang, MD, Attending Physician, Rocket Force General Hospital

Colds are mostly caused by viruses and a few by bacteria, whereas pneumonia is often caused by bacteria, and the main thing to differentiate is the symptoms that manifest themselves.

The main symptoms of viral colds are nasal discomfort, pharynx and tonsils are usually not enlarged or red, and nasal runny symptoms are more serious than pharyngeal symptoms. Viral infections have a rapid onset, and patients have a longer fever and higher body temperature, but the systemic symptoms of toxicity are not severe, and the whole body is not uncomfortable. In bacterial colds, redness, swelling and pain in the tonsils or throat are more obvious. The onset of bacterial infection may be rapid or slow, and the symptoms of toxicity are relatively severe and unpleasant all over the body. Viral colds alone tend to have no purulent discharge, while purulent sputum is important evidence of bacterial infection. If it is also accompanied by diarrhea or conjunctival congestion, it is a viral infection. Clinically, in addition to the patient's symptoms, will also be based on the results of routine blood tests, lymphocyte ratio is too high, is a viral infection, high neutrophils, is a bacterial infection.

In short, viral colds have slightly milder symptoms compared to bacterial colds. However, it is important to keep in mind that taking anti-inflammatory drugs as soon as you get a cold is the wrong operation! Because most common colds are caused by simple viruses, they usually clear up on their own in 1-2 weeks if there is no secondary bacterial cold. However, viral infections may be accompanied by bacterial infections. Simple viral infections are generally not treated with antibiotics, but bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, and if there is a fever, antipyretic medications (e.g., ibuprofen and acetaminophen, which are commonly used) are needed to treat the symptoms. Bacterial colds need to be under the guidance of a doctor to use medication, if necessary, need to go to the hospital in time to see a doctor.

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Difference between viral and bacterial colds

1, the pathogen infection difference, viral cold belongs to the viral infection, special viral cold is called influenza. Bacterial colds are bacterial infections.

2. Symptoms of viral flu are runny nose, nasal congestion, cough and fever. Influenza is accompanied by high fever, muscle aches, and fatigue are evident. Bacterial colds tend to have persistent yellow snot, cough with yellow sputum, sore throat, and fever.

3, the course of viral colds is usually a week, bacterial colds vary in duration, depending on whether timely antibiotic treatment.

4, viral colds are not static, sometimes also combined with bacterial infections, if the fever recedes and rises again, or recurrent fever for more than a week, often combined with bacterial infections may be.

5. In the former, blood leukocytes were normal or decreased, with lymphocytes predominating. In the latter, leukocytes are elevated, with neutrophils predominating and ultrasensitive CRP elevated.

combination therapy

1. Drink plenty of water, pay attention to rest, and eat a light diet.

2. Viral colds emphasize symptomatic treatment, while bacterial colds require antibiotic treatment.

3, viral belongs to wind-cold, bacterial most of the wind-heat, you can use heat-clearing and detoxification Chinese patent medicine.

In conclusion, although colds are minor, you need to be aware of complications such as otitis media, sinusitis, and pneumonia.

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Dr. Ke is a pediatrician with extensive clinical experience, specializing in children's digestive and respiratory disorders, chronic cough, Helicobacter pylori infection, chronic gastritis, functional constipation, liver function abnormalities, chronic diarrhea, milk protein allergy, and other difficult problems and nutritional development of infants and young children, as well as feeding counseling. For more information about pediatrics, please visit Dr. Ke Youjian online.

With health as a companion, with the doctor as a friend, welcome to forward the praise, comment attention, praise and share is a virtue. Questions can be left, Dr. Ke in the break time will be on the typical questions targeted answer.

The difference between viral and bacterial colds has been a question that parents have been seeking to understand. Parents may be asking how is it possible that doctors always say that antibiotics are not needed for colds because most colds are viral infections? What is the essential difference between the two? Can we remember it over and over?

Different pathogens

1. Most pathogens of viral colds are caused by rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, EBV, coxsackievirus and influenza virus.

Because viruses replicate through DNA nucleic acids, they are highly pathogenic and the vast majority of viral infections are contagious.

2, bacterial cold: also known as bacterial upper respiratory tract infections, the main infecting bacteria are β-hemolytic streptococcus infection, Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, staphylococcus infection, Haemophilus influenzae infection and tuberculosis infection. In addition, there are mycoplasma, chlamydia and some fungal infections.

Bacteria reproduce primarily through bacterial cultures; therefore, bacterial infections are generally not contagious.

Clinical symptoms vary.

1, viral infections:to respiratory mucosa of khat symptoms are more typical, especially influenza virus infection, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever, secondary lower respiratory tract infections less than bacterial.

Influenza is characterized by generalized muscle aches and weakness. However, most viral colds are self-limiting illnesses, and the natural course of the disease can be self-limiting in 5-7 days.

2. Bacterial upper respiratory tract infection: characterized by yellow sticky nasal discharge, pharyngeal tonsillar suppuration and quickly secondary bronchial and pneumonia.

Bacterial colds require antibiotic antimicrobial treatment in order to control the infection and have a long duration of illness.

Differences in clinical test results/

Blood counts in viral infections are characterized by a normal or slightly elevated total leukocyte count and a predominance of lymphoid classification, i.e., an increased lymphocyte to classification ratio.

Children's classification is characterized by a similarity to adults from 0-6 days or more than 6 years of age, while neutrophil classification prevails from 6 days to less than 6 years of age. This means that children in this age group may have higher neutrophils than lymphocytes, even with viral infections.

2, the blood routine of bacterial infection is the opposite of viral infection, the total number of leukocytes is significantly higher, neutrophils and the proportion of increased, while C-reactive protein is significantly higher.

The treatment is clearly different.

1, viral cold: most of the symptomatic treatment, clearing heat and detoxification, physical cooling of small children, pay attention to drinking water. The natural course of the disease is self-healing. While the flu needs to be antiviral within 48-72 hours, apply oseltamivir, small children according to age and weight. The aim is to inhibit the toxicity of neuraminidase.

2、Bacterial infection:In addition to physical cooling, through bacteriological testing, the corresponding antibiotics are applied for sensitive bacteria to control the treatment of infection.

Bacteria of respiratory tract infections in children are mainly beta hemolytic streptococcus and diplococcus pneumoniae, and beta amidase antibiotics such as penicillin, ampicillin, and cefoperazone are mostly chosen. This is the biggest difference between the two.

(Ear Zhao Q&A 190218) Cold is just a common name, specifically can also be divided into influenza and the common cold, influenza is clearly caused by the influenza virus, the common cold is basically a virus (different from the influenza virus) caused by very few bacterial colds. For cases with severe systemic symptoms (fever, aches and pains) and mild upper respiratory symptoms (nasal congestion, runny nose), it is important to investigate whether it is the influenza virus as soon as possible. If it is considered to be the common cold, it can basically be cured on its own, and there will rarely be any serious complications, which may not necessarily require any special examination.

To really get serious about checking for bacteria and viruses requires bacterial blood and viral antibody tests to confirm, and regular blood tests can only provide a reference, not a confirmation.

I. Concepts

Viral colds are acute respiratory infectious diseases caused by viruses that spread through the air, saliva, and nasal mucus leading to the human body, including the common cold, influenza, and viral pharyngitis. Viral colds are caused by viruses. Bacterial colds are mainly caused by bacterial infections such as: bacterial pharyngotonsillitis. Bacterial colds are due to bacteria. Second, infectious

Viral colds: 1. Influenza, an acute respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. The virus is present in the respiratory tract and is transmitted to others through droplet infection when the patient coughs or sneezes. Generally in the winter and spring epidemics have more chances, each time there may be 20 ~ 40% of the people will be infected with influenza. 2, colds, commonly known as the cold, is caused by rhinovirus, coronavirus and parainfluenza virus, these viruses are present in the patient's respiratory tract, through the droplet transmission to others. The common cold is much less contagious than the influenza, and people are usually susceptible to the disease only after they have been exposed to cold, rain, or excessive fatigue due to a drop in resistance. Therefore, the common cold tends to appear individually, rarely like the influenza epidemic, patients appear in batches. Viral colds: not highly contagious, mainly distributed, with varying speeds of onset.

3. Symptoms

Viral flu: mainly manifested as high and low body temperature, severe runny nose, light cough, sneezing, spirit is still good, some patients will be accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms. 1, flu flu flu, sudden chills, fever, headache, body aches, nasal congestion, runny nose, dry cough, chest pain, nausea, loss of appetite, infants, young children or the elderly may be complicated by pneumonia or heart failure. Toxic influenza patients are: high fever, talking nonsense, coma, convulsions, and sometimes can be fatal. Therefore, the disease is very easy to spread, so it should be isolated and treated as early as possible.2. Common cold, most of them are low fever, rarely high fever, patients with nasal congestion and runny nose, sore throat, headache, generalized aches and pains, fatigue and weakness, the symptoms of the flu is mild, and there is no fear of life.

Bacterial colds: the main manifestations are fever, especially persistent high fever, runny nose, red, swollen and sore throat, inflammation of tonsils, mental depression, and in a few cases, febrile convulsions.

IV. Laboratory tests

Viral colds: total white blood cell count is normal or low, early on there may be a high percentage of neutral white blood cells, usually with elevated lymphocytes being more common.

Bacterial colds: higher total white blood cell count and elevated neutrophilic white blood cells.

V. Treatment

Viral colds: treatment with antiviral drugs without antibiotics; antiviral drugs such as ribavirin, acyclovir, morinoguanidine, and vincristine can be applied.

Bacterial colds: anti-infective treatment. Such as cephalosporins, fosfomycin, levofloxacin, etc.

In short, bacterial colds can be converted from viral colds or they can start out as bacterial colds.

I hope the above answer can help you.

The authoritative interpretation of Pharmaceutical Affairs, unauthorized reproduction, plagiarism will be punished.

I see that everyone's answers are complicated, and it just so happens that the difference between bacteria and viruses was mentioned in a course I took a few years ago when I majored in colds, so I'll keep it simple.

The difference between bacteria and viruses is: 1. Bacteria by the cell wall, cytoplasm, cell membrane composition, structural integrity. Viruses are composed of proteins and nucleic acids and do not have a complete cell wall structure.

2. Bacteria cause disease in different ways by adsorbing to the surface of skin mucosal cells with the help of specialized components and structures in the body. Viruses are infected by invading host cells hijacking the cellular equipment to replicate. Antibiotics, on the other hand, destroy the cell walls of bacteria and cause them to die. Viruses don't have cell walls, so antibiotics can't deal with them.

3 Bacteria reproduce only one species any more, whereas viruses constantly mutate and subtype, which is why viruses are harder to deal with than bacteria.

Above all, that is why it is said that no cold medicine can kill a virus unless it kills your own cells along with it. Don't believe people when they say my medicine kills blah blah blah viruses, that's all bragging.

So what's the difference in treatment?

Bacteria: antibiotics (drugs) and human immunity (nutrition)

Viruses: fear of heat, human immunity (nutrition)

As I have studied colds specifically, I have summarized them with my self-summarizing ability to make it easier for people to compare them, so that they can understand the principles rather than how to treat them. If you read my cold and flu summary, you will understand that I have put in a lot of effort to learn.

There is definitely a difference between these two diseases, how? Mainly from the blood picture and pathogenic microorganism culture to distinguish. Viral colds have normal or decreased blood counts, and rhinovirus and adenovirus can be seen in the culture of secretions, see the figure below.

Bacterial cold with elevated blood <见下图>, first line second line, secretion culture with pneumococcus, haemophilus influenzae

Colds, which can occur throughout the year and are more common in winter and spring, involve the nose, throat and larynx, and are characterized by nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, fever, general weakness, aches and pains, etc. They are also called upper respiratory tract infections.

The two are also different in terms of treatment; viral colds are treated with antiviral therapy. Bacterial colds are mainly anti-inflammatory. But in reality, colds can have both viral and bacterial infections.

Medicines for viral colds

In addition, there are also Vc silver cocktail tablets, Banlangen granules, ribavirin tablets, and so on.

Drugs for bacterial colds

Also erythromycin, penicillin, amoxicillin. Azithromycin, etc.

I hope my answer is helpful.