measles – Hello Doctor

What is the difference between viral and bacterial infections?

April 8th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s important to understand the difference between a bacterial and viral infection. Even though both infections can cause similar symptoms, they are treated very differently.

Bacteria create bacterial infections and viruses create viral infections. Many bacterial and viral infections are contagious, which means they can spread from person to person. They can result in mild, moderate, or severe diseases.

Bacterial infections

Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that grow well in different types of environments. Not all bacteria are bad, and not all cause infections. Good bacteria live in your intestines and help to digest food. Disease-causing bacteria live outside of the body.

Infections caused by bacteria include:

Strep throat
Whooping cough
Some ear infections
Urinary tract infections (UTI)
Food poisoning
Skin infections

Viral infections

Viruses are small organisms that need living hosts like people, animals or plants to successfully multiply, or else they won’t survive. When a virus enters your body, it invades some of your cells and takes over the cell machinery. Viral infections can be minor, like the common cold, or could involve your nervous system, making you seriously ill.

Infections caused by a virus include:

Influenza
Common cold
Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
Chickenpox
Measles
Viral meningitis (an infection of the membranes (linings) that cover the brain and spinal)
HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus)

Bacterial or viral?

Most times it’s difficult to figure out if it’s a bacterium or a virus causing your symptoms. Your doctor may be able to diagnose your condition based on your medical history and your symptoms.

For your doctor to diagnose the cause of your condition, a sample of blood, mucus, urine, stool or skin may be taken. This will help determine whether an antibiotic may be helpful in treating your condition. Antibiotics are only effective in treating bacterial infections, they are powerless against viruses.

Treatment

Antibiotics are usually the prescribed treatment for bacterial infections and there are many types available. They all work to keep bacteria from growing and dividing again.

Treatment for viral infections typically focuses on relief of symptoms while your body works to clear the infection on its own. This can include things like:

Getting rest
Drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration
Using over-the-counter pain medications to relieve pain and fever and decongestants to help with a runny or stuffy nose
Throat lozenges to help ease a sore throat

In some cases, your doctor may give you antiviral drugs, which is medication for treating viral infections rather than bacterial ones. These act by killing or preventing the growth of viruses. Not all virus infections have antiviral drugs that can treat them, and most of the virus infections just need to be cleared by your body’s immune system.

Prevent infections

Infections can be caused by either bacteria or viruses and spread in many of the same ways. Keep yourself from getting sick and spreading both bacterial and viral infections by:

Always washing your hands.
Getting vaccinated.
Not going out if you’re sick.
Practising safe sex.
Making sure that food is cooked thoroughly and all raw fruits or vegetables are washed before eating.
Protecting yourself against bug bites and using insect repellent if you’ll be in contact with insects like mosquitoes and ticks.

References:

Measles 101

October 8th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Measles is an infectious illness caused by the rubeola virus. And although there is a vaccine for measles, it’s still one of the leading causes of death in children.

The measles virus is found in the mucus of your nose and throat. This means you can get the virus by breathing in when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. It’s so contagious that you can get it simply by being in the same room as an infected person.

If you haven’t been vaccinated and come into contact with someone who has measles, you are very much at risk of getting infected. You are also more at risk if your diet is generally unhealthy, and you have a weak immune system.

Once you have been infected by the virus, it takes about 10 days for you to start experiencing symptoms. A fever is usually the first sign and can last up to seven days. Watch for other signs like a runny nose, red eyes, a rash (usually starts near your hairline and spreads to the neck, limbs, feet, hands and torso), and tiny white bumps in your mouth (Koplik spots).

How is it treated?

There’s no cure or specific treatment for measles, but there are some ways to help ease its symptoms.

Medication

Talk to your doctor about medication to treat the symptoms. There are over-the-counter pills which can help with a fever. Don’t give these to your child though – unless your doctor approves.

Antibiotics aren’t usually prescribed, unless there’s a bacterial infection along with measles. As your doctor to check your vitamin A levels. People with low vitamin A are more likely to have severe measles symptoms.

Post-exposure vaccination

If you haven’t had the measles vaccination, you may be given the vaccination within 72 hours of being exposed to the virus. This will help protect you against the disease and make any symptoms easier to cope with.

Home remedies

To recover and boost your immune system, avoid tiring activities and get plenty of rest. This includes resting your eyes, as bright lights can cause strain. Drink plenty of water to replace water lost while you had a fever.

Lower your chances of getting measles and other illnesses:

Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol if there isn’t soap and water available.
Don’t touch your nose, eyes, mouth, or face.
If you know someone is sick, stay away from them! This includes kissing, hugging and sharing utensils and cups.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve if you cough or sneeze.
Children are usually given two injections for measles. One injection is after they’re older than 12 months, and again between the ages of four to six. Talk to your doctor about having the measles vaccine if you or your children haven’t had it already.

References:

This shot will save your child’s life!

February 5th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

Joanne Hart for HelloDoctor.com

The measles vaccine doesn’t just stop measles! Why do child death-rates drop when children get vaccinated for measles? A team of researchers did some detecting. Continue reading “This shot will save your child’s life!”

Busting the vaccination myth

May 25th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Before the days of vaccinations, people had little option but to take their chances with whatever illness or disease was sweeping through their town.

However, once treated as lifesaving wonders of modern technology, vaccines have now become a source of suspicion and debate. So, the question is: to jab or not to jab?

Continue reading “Busting the vaccination myth”

How are measles like zombies?

February 23rd, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s a strange comparison, right? Except this virus is just like zombies in the most important way: it seemed like the measles was dead, but it isn’t. Continue reading “How are measles like zombies?”

Why should I get my child vaccinated?

April 13th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

You may have heard or read that children’s vaccinations are dangerous, or that we can live without them. Or perhaps you just don’t like the idea of your child getting a jab. If this sounds like you, then read on.

Continue reading “Why should I get my child vaccinated?”