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Doctor insights on: Viral Vs Bacterial Infection Cbc

It varies: A systemic bacterial infection is likely to increase the number of neutrophils, immature neutrophils, and angry-looking neutrohils (toxic granulation etc). Typhoid raises monocytes instead, whooping cough lymphocytes. Viral infections may raise total lymphocytes and/or atypical lymphs. Or either can suppress lymphs. It's tricky stuff. ...Read more

See below: As a general rule bacterial infections produce an elevated WBC count with a preponderance of neutrophils and bands. Viral infections more often produce a low or normal WBC count with a preponderance of lymphocytes. ...Read more

Many reasons: A CBC can provide a lot of information to a treating physician, who may be ordering it for many different reasons (confirm bacterial vs. Viral, monitor for treatment effectivess, use in conjunction with other tests, etc.) ...Read more

Worthless info: Without a full examination and appropriate cultures if necessary your CBC results have no useful meaning other than a vague suggestion that you may have an inflammatory process in progress. ...Read more

It depends: It depends mostly on the site if infection. Ifkr respiratory infections symptoms like fever, sore throat and cough etc are common to both, whereas most runny nose and nasal congestion points to viral than bacterial. If symptoms don't go away in 7-10 days, it generally suggests a bacterial superinfection, for which antibiotics can be prescribed. ...Read more

Boost Immune system: Frequent illness doesn't necessarily point to cancer. It looks like you have been on a lot of antibiotics and although these help fight serious bacterial infections, if used too often they can lower your immune system. Antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria. When this happens in the gut the bad take over and the good cannot protect you. Then you get sick again. Probiotics, diet, etc. Can help. ...Read more

Yes: I would consider that normal.

All of them!: All bacterial infections are non-viral, but definition. Mycoplasma pneumoniae has similar features to both but is treated as a bacterium. Streptococcal and Staphylococcus are two other examples. ...Read more

Often timing or test: There are many different types of viral infections and bacterial infections so it depends on location. By type of infection: sore throat: bacteria can easily be identified with an office test. If negative usually viral sinusitis: after a cold is going on for 7+ days and getting better, suddenly gets worse pneumonia: doctor exam, x-ray, culture flu (viral): type of symptoms, office test ...Read more

It really depends: On each specific infection and their modes of transmission. ...Read more

Yes: Fever is your body's response to foreign invaders whether bacterial or viral. A good high fever makes it harder for the infection to grow and spread in your body. Respect the fever. ...Read more

Flu: The general time from is 7 to 10 days of symptoms not improving or worsening. ...Read more

Surgical trauma: Labyrinthitis by definition is an inflammation of the inner ear. The inner ear has both the organ for hearing (cochlea) and the organs of balance. Bacterial infections of the labyrinth are very rare and life-threatening. The cause of inner ear inflammation is usually viral but can certainly follow middle ear or inner ear surgery. Middle ear infections can also penetrate into the inner ear. ...Read more

Ggod question!: There are some clear differences, which one ought to know. Most virus infections cause a short illness of 3-5 days and then go away on their own. We do not have good antibiotics against the virus (this is typical scenario for upper respiratory infections (one of the common infections). Bacterial infections are more serious and definitely require antibiotics, otherwise you will get very sick, ending. ...Read more

It depends: It depends on which virus and which bacteria you are talking about. ...Read more

Bacterial only: Unless there is an additional immune disorder affecting lymphocytes, one would expect a person with chronic benign neutropenia to have more problems with recurrent bacterial infections and be able to respond normally to viral infections. ...Read more

Depends on the germ: The Ebola virus is certainly deadly but the cold virus is usually not. Meningococcal germs could kill you in a day while common germs live in your gut for your lifetime and help your digestion/health. I think trying to generalize such an issue can be a cute parlor game but most don't have the need to play it. ...Read more

Many possible: It really depends on what the infection is. Maybe fever, chills, muscle or joint pains and aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, congestion, abdominal pain, headaches, sore throat, rash, etc..... ...Read more

The other way around: Leukocytosis is an abnormally high number of white blood cells in the blood, as measured on a blood test. Both viral and bacterial infections can sometimes cause high numbers of white blood cells (wbc's) or low numbers of wbc's (leukopenia). Unusual leukocytosis, not caused by an infection, can be due to a bone marrow problem such as an early stage of leukemia. A doctor can further evaluate. ...Read more

Assumption incorrect: Increase in NUMBER of neutrophils does not affect the NUMBER of lymphocytes, but perforce reduces the PERCENTAGE of white blood cells which are lymphocytes. ...Read more