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Home › Articles › General Health › Bacterial vs. Viral Infections

Bacterial vs. Viral Infections

What's the Difference Between Bacterial and Viral Infections in Babies?

By Shannon McKelden

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It's common knowledge that infections can be caused either by bacteria or viruses. But what are the differences in the two infections and how they are treated?

"Viral infections and bacterial infections are different in both the type of microorganism infecting the person, as well as the response to the infection," says Dr. Beverly B. Rogers, chief of pathology, Children's Medical Center Dallas, as well as professor of pathology, UT Southwestern Medical School. "Bacterial infections tend to progress rapidly and, in the case of meningitis [for example], can be lethal within hours or days. Viral infections, on the other hand, can span a wide range of clinical presentation. While some viruses, such as herpes simplex virus, can cause a very bad infection in the central nervous system (called meningoencephalitis), viruses such as enteroviruses typically cause much milder infections."

Both viruses and bacteria enter the body through mucous membranes (nasal passages, mouth, genital area, rectum and skin that has been cut or irritated such as in the case of diaper rash).

In infants, viral and bacterial infections can cause similar symptoms. According to Dr. Heidi Dalton, director of the pediatric intensive care unit, Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C., common symptoms of a viral infection in babies are one or more of the following: fever, rash, sleepiness or fussiness, runny nose, cough, difficulty breathing, wheezing, decreased appetite, vomiting, increased spitting up or diarrhea.

Common symptoms of bacterial infection can be all of the same symptoms found in viral infections. "A runny nose or a rash all over the body are not as commonly found when a bacterial infection is present," Dr. Dalton says. "They are more commonly suggestive of a viral infection." (Rashes associated with bacterial infections may look more like a red spot, found in one place on the infant's body or multiple spots that may be red, purple or darker in color.)


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