The difference between viral and bacterial colds

Written by Zou Zhong Lan
Pulmonology
Updated on September 06, 2024
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The main differences between viral and bacterial colds are: First, the pathogens are different. Viral colds are primarily caused by viruses, while bacterial colds are mainly caused by bacterial infections. Second, the characteristics of contagion differ. Viral colds generally have stronger contagiousness, such as influenza, which has distinct characteristics of outbreaks and often occurs seasonally in spring and winter, with a sudden onset. Bacterial colds are less contagious and typically occur sporadically. Third, the symptoms differ. Generally, viral colds mainly present symptoms of nasal congestion, runny nose, and other upper respiratory catarrhal symptoms. Bacterial colds mainly present with fever, sore throat, tonsillitis, and other symptoms. Fourth, in terms of examinations, a typical hemogram for viral colds usually shows normal or low white blood cells, with an increase in lymphocytes, while bacterial colds often show an increase in white blood cells or neutrophils. Fifth, the treatment approaches differ. Treatment for viral colds primarily includes antiviral therapy, nutritional support, ventilation, and hydration. Bacterial colds are mainly treated with antibiotics and anti-infection therapies.

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What is the temperature of a fever caused by a cold?

Colds are very common clinically, and due to different types of colds, patients exhibit varying clinical symptoms. Typically, febrile colds often occur in the summer. The specific fever temperature varies from person to person. Some patients with febrile colds may not develop a fever at all, while others may experience high fevers accompanied by symptoms like chills and other clinical discomforts. Therefore, the specific temperature of a febrile cold is determined by each patient's individual condition. In cases where the resistance is relatively good, it is common for some patients to have a mild infection and not develop a fever, while others might have a fever around 39°C or even higher.

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What should I do about a seasonal cold?

Colds caused by seasonal changes should be treated symptomatically, often due to fluctuations in temperature differences leading to decreased immune function and colds caused by chilling. It is recommended to drink more ginger sugar water and measure body temperature. Drinking ginger sugar water can warm the body and disperse cold, as well as promote metabolism. If there are symptoms of fever, physical methods to reduce fever should be adopted, or antipyretic medications can be taken orally. Firstly, it is important to maintain the cleanliness of the indoor air, avoid eating irritating or spicy foods, measure body temperature twice daily, and possibly combine with antiviral medications for etiological treatment.

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Can you drink alcohol when you have a cold?

A cold, also commonly referred to as an upper respiratory tract infection, can be classified based on the type of infecting virus into common cold and influenza. Regardless of the type, patients typically experience various symptoms following the virus infection such as fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, coughing, and an itchy throat. For patients exhibiting these symptoms, it is generally recommended in clinical practice to drink plenty of water and avoid overly greasy foods. Certainly, consumption of alcohol and spicy foods like chili peppers should be avoided. Similarly, it is advised not to consume cold-natured foods during a cold, hence drinking alcohol is discouraged while sick.

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What should be paid attention to for a cold caused by wind and cold?

What should we pay attention to when dealing with a common cold caused by external contraction of wind-cold? The first thing is to keep warm and avoid further exposure to wind-cold, which can aggravate the condition. Secondly, diet is also important; eat light and easy-to-digest foods, and avoid spicy, greasy, and hard-to-digest foods that can worsen the condition. Third, it is essential to rest during a wind-cold cold; failing to rest well might worsen the condition, while good rest can alleviate it. If the symptoms of a wind-cold cold are severe, such as heavy nasal congestion, severe chills, or lack of sweat and overall body aches, it is still appropriate to take some medicine. In terms of Chinese medicine, you can take some that expel wind and disperse cold, such as Fang Feng and Qiang Huo to relieve the exterior and disperse cold. You can also use Chai Hu to expel wind and release the exterior, with a common formula used being Jing Fang Bai Du San. Of course, besides taking these Chinese medicines, you can also consult a doctor to prescribe other medications based on different symptoms for treatment.

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What to do when a one-year-old baby has a cold?

For treating a cold in a one-year-old baby, we mainly handle symptoms as they appear. If the baby has only occasional mild coughing or a slight fever, if they can eat and drink, and if their spirits are good, then parents don't need to worry too much, and special treatment generally isn't necessary. However, if the baby has a severe cough that affects their breathing, a fever over 38 degrees Celsius, and their spirits are not good, it is important to take the baby to the hospital for timely treatment. It's important to emphasize that parents should not arbitrarily use medications to treat the baby, as many cold medicines intended for adults should not be used for babies.