Difference between Viral Fever and Bacterial Fever

Viral Fever vs Bacterial Fever: Understanding Key Differences and Symptoms

Fever is not a disease or illness in itself. It is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as a microbial infection. A human’s average normal body temperature is 37°C or 98.6 °F. A fever is an elevated body temperature, i.e., 38 degrees C or 100 degrees F or higher.

Fevers can develop for many reasons, like a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection, a food or medicine allergy, sunstroke, inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, certain immunizations, and malignant conditions like cancer. In this regard, bacterial and viral fevers tend to have the same symptoms. Thus, it is crucial to understand their differences for developing specific treatment plans.

Read ahead for a comprehensive idea of bacterial fever, viral fever, and their key differences.

Do Bacterial and Viral Infections Have Similar Symptoms?

Yes. Common symptoms associated with bacterial and viral infections include:

• Fever
• Inflammation
• Bodyache
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Wet cough
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Irritability
• Dehydration
• Skin rashes

What are Bacterial Fevers?

Bacterial fever is a symptom caused by infection with microbes called bacteria. When infection occurs, the immune system raises the body temperature as the first line of defense.

The following are some crucial points to understand bacterial infections:

• Bacterial infections involve the multiplication of bacteria, the release of toxins, and damage to cells and tissues.
• Common infection-causing bacteria include Salmonella, Streptococcus, Mycobacterium, Campylobacter, and Escherichia species.
• Bacteria can infect the throat, blood, digestive tract, skin, lungs, heart, brain, and urinary tract, to name a few.
• Bacterial infections can spread between people through sex and contact with infected surfaces, by airborne particles or droplets (dust, sneezing or coughing), through mosquito, flea, or tick bites, or via contaminated food or water.
   

Some common bacterial illnesses include: 

• Strep throat
• Food poisoning
• Typhoid fever
• Whooping cough
• Tuberculosis
• Pneumonia
• Urinary tract diseases
• Sexually-transmitted infections
• Lyme disease
• Meningitis (in serious cases)

What are Viral Fevers?

Viral fever is a symptom caused by infection with microbes called viruses. When infection occurs, the immune system elevates the body temperature as a sign of protection.

The following are some crucial points to understand viral infections:

• Viral infections involve the multiplication (replication) of viruses inside the body cells of a host. Viruses cannot survive on their own.
• Common infection-causing viruses include the ones that cause the common cold, influenza, herpes, hepatitis, HIV, and COVID-19, to name a few.
• Viruses most commonly infect the lungs, the digestive tract, and the skin, though they can affect almost any body part.
• Viral infections can spread between people through sex and contact with infected surfaces, by airborne particles or droplets (dust, sneezing, or coughing), through insect bites (mosquitoes, fleas, or ticks), or via contaminated food or water.
   

Some common viral infections include:
 

• Lung infections like cold, flu, and COVID-19
• Digestive infections like gastritis or liver disease
• Viral fevers involving hemorrhage, like dengue, yellow fever, and Ebola
• Genital infections like HIV, genital herpes, and hepatitis B.
• Exanthematous infections like measles, chickenpox, and rubella
• Neurological infections like polio and rabies

What are the Differences in Bacterial Fever and Viral Fever?

Differences between bacterial and viral fever are as follows:

It is crucial to take preventive measures to stay away from bacterial and viral fevers caused by infections and illnesses. These include maintaining personal hygiene like regular hand washing, not sharing potentially infected personal belongings, vaccination and practicing safe sex.