Virus or bacteria?

The flu (influenza) and colds (upper respiratory infections) are caused by viruses for which there is no special treatment.

On the other hand, bacterial infections such as strep throat or an ear infection can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by a physician.

These general guidelines can help you determine if you have a viral or bacterial infection:

Symptom	Virus	Bacteria
runny nose	often	rare
achy muscles	usual	rare
headache	often	rare
dizzy	often	rare
fever	often	often
cough	often	sometimes
dry cough	often	rare
raising sputum	often	often
hoarseness	often	rare
Do antibiotic prescriptions help?	no	yes

Related Links

Allina Community Pharmacies

Colds and sore throats: Antibiotics won't always make your child feel better 

Handwashing 101

Infectious disease specialists

How to prevent infections during your hospital stay

First published: 12/11/2003
Last updated: 10/26/2006

Reviewed by: Paul Kleeberg, MD, medical director, Allina.com