How are you supposed to *know* the difference between a viral infection and a bacterial infection?

[Pruni]

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I was told that if the same symptom kicks around for more than a few days, then it's bacterial.

But I've also been told it needs to be a week of the same symptom before you bother going to the doc's.

Thing is, it could be a 'flu (and not that 'flu that everyone gets when they just have a cold but want sympathy, or are in possession of a penis), which means it's much worse than a cold, but still essentially untreatable.

Have you pus in your tonsils or are your bones achey?

Worst case scenario - it could be both!

I think there just aren't many bacterial infections that do the rounds and just make you feel generally icky. If there's pus anywhere then it's probably bacterial, but that's almost certainly secondary to the viral infection. I think you've probably got what I had judging by how rampant it is at the moment and you'll just have to ride it out unless there's something specific, as monkeytrousers says.

Pus, and green/yellowy phlegm.

So a red sore throat= viral

Read with yellow pus=bacterial

Coughing=viral

coughing up greenly/yellowy crud = bacterial

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Pruni - I was thinking exactly the same thing this morning. I'm now on about day 10 of rancid cold (or more, maybe I've just had 2 back to back). Head aches, teeth ache, sinuses ache, eyes ache. And also have a hacking cough so my stomach aches.

Have decided that if I'm not better by Monday that's it, I'm off to the doctors.

Do have a lumpy tonisl, but having had bacterial tonsilitis at Christmas, this looks relatively tame and not yukky as such - just inflamed.

Fed fed fed up with feeling like crap.

Oh I'm sorry Pruni. I am feeling worse again too, and that's two blooming weeks now. It's crap, isn't it, and even worse when you're both ill (or when one of you is swanning around sodding Africa). I hope you feel better soon.

But what about meeeeeeeeeeeee????
Is your dh swanning round Africa then? That's rough if yu're feeling crappy.

Oh yes I'm sorry, poor you too pooka. It was my dh who was away when I was really ill at the start.

Rotten bad luck isn't it. I was fortunate (ha) enough to get tonsilitis on Boxing Day, so DH really had no excuse to head off to work. Strange that I look back to that week of feeling rancid as being pure bliss. Felt like a victorian mother, having children brought up to me occasionally for feeble kisses before they were whisked away. I just lay in bed and read and slept. Joy!

Now of course, dh scuttles off with not a look behind him.

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I'm actually rather enjoying the beef tea/Victorian mother theme on this thread, I must say

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Temp is usually higher with bacterial.

Viral usually improves with 72hrs on analgesia.

Get well soon, Pruni!

I had sinusitis, probably set off by a respiratory virus, that I just couldn't shake for love or money.

For three weeks.

Finally woke up a couple of Saturdays w/green phlegm, fever, and immense pain in the ears.

Chest and both ears all infected and got signed off for a bit.

Hope you clear this soon.

poor you pruni

am feeling crappy myself, just been to docs

phone diagnosis of flu

face to face diagnosis of severe chest infection, with prescription of antibiotics.

hacking up revolting bloody gunk....always good indication of bacterial infection

get thee to the quacks !