Introduction
The flu sometimes has symptoms that resemble those of a common cold, and vice versa.
A runny nose, sore throat, headache, dry cough and other symptoms are characteristic for both of these infectious diseases. Because of the similarity in symptoms, it may be difficult to distinguish influenza and a common cold from one another.
However, since both are caused by viruses, the treatment will be similar and will not consist of antibiotics. This is because antibiotics only work to fight bacterial infections.
Giving antibiotics to a person who is suffering from a flu is not only absolutely useless, but also potentially harmful. Wrong usage of antibiotics can contribute to resistance to these important medications and can also harm the delicate flora in the intestines, giving rise to conditions such as a Candida or fungal infection.
Considering all this, it is very important to distinguish bacterial from viral infections.
Viral infections
The flu, also called influenza, is a viral infection that has multiple subtypes and strains, which are always evolving. Influenza is, however, always caused by a virus and it does not ever respond to treatment with antibiotics. There are different types of flu virus, called influenza virus, but they all cause more or less the same symptoms.
Those symptoms that are characteristic of the flu involve the upper respiratory tract and include a runny or stuffy nose, headache, sore throat, cough, postnasal drip and feelings of severe fatigue and unwellness. Fever, chills, and muscle ache are also common in people who are suffering from influenza.
The common cold is also caused by viruses — hundreds of different viruses, including often rhinoviruses, can cause colds. These are contagious diseases that are particularly common during cold seasons.
Influenza infections can be prevented with flu vaccines and with good personal hygiene.
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is also of course a viral infection, and it is important to mention here because COVID-19 often presents with similar symptoms to the flu and common cold as well. Like the flu, it can lead to complications such as pneumonia and even death, but at higher rates. Here again, antibiotics cannot be used to cure the virus, and treatment depends on the patient's symptoms, mainly being supportive as they recover from the virus.
Bacterial infections
Bacterial infections are a completely different entity from viral infections. Flu is not a bacterial infection, however, bacterial infections may sometimes be associated with the flu. This happens if the influenza virus weakens the immune response of the body so it becomes more susceptible to bacterial infections.
Bacterial infections can be a secondary consequence of the flu, and some of the signs that a person has ended up with a bacterial infection after a flu include a persistent fever that increases instead of dropping and symptoms that do not go away after ten to fourteen days.
Some of the most common bacterial infections, especially those that can be confused with viral infections, like flu, are sinusitis, bacterial pneumonia, and ear infections. Another common bacterial infection is strep throat, a form of throat inflammation caused by streptococcus bacteria.
Unlike viral infections, bacterial infections require treatment with antibiotics. It is necessary to use the right antibiotics too, because not all antibiotics are suitable for treating all bacterial strains and types.
The best way to diagnose a bacterial infection is to do a complete blood test and culture, as well as a urine culture. After the presence of a bacterial infection has been confirmed, it will be safe and effective to prescribe a course of antibiotics. If you are prescribed antibiotics, always remember to take them exactly as instructed and to finish the entire course even if you are already feeling better.
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