Bacterial Infections Symptoms persist longer than the expected 10-14 days a virus tends to last. Fever is higher than one might typically expect from a virus. Fever gets worse a few days into the illness rather than improving.
Symptoms in case of acute Bacterial Infections may get resolved spontaneously in a duration of approx. two weeks, without undergoing treatment. However, in chronic cases when the symptoms persist for a longer duration, such as for 10 or more days, there is a need for the consultation with a doctor.
Not all bacterial infections need to be treated — some go away on their own. When you do need treatment, healthcare providers use antibiotics. Depending on where your infection is and how serious it is, antibiotics can be prescribed as: Oral medication (pills).
Bacteria must enter your body for them to cause an infection. So you can get a bacterial infection through an opening in your skin, such as a cut, a bug bite, or a surgical wound. Bacteria can also enter your body through your airway and cause infections like bacterial pneumonia.
Antibiotics are only needed for treating certain infections caused by bacteria, but even some bacterial infections get better without antibiotics.
Urinary tract infections (UTI)
UTIs are mainly caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) and are the most common infection in humans worldwide.
An untreated bacterial infection can also put you at risk for developing a life-threatening condition called sepsis. Sepsis occurs when an infection causes an extreme reaction in your body. The bacteria most likely to cause sepsis include Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and some types of Streptococcus.
Antibiotics can take a few days before they start to work, so you may need to wait 3-5 days before you notice improvements. Depending on the infection, it may take longer to feel fully better (like with bacterial pneumonia).
As discussed, if your symptoms are caused by a virus (like a cold or flu virus), you won't need antibiotics. But if you have a sore throat due to bacteria — for instance, strep throat or bacterial tonsillitis — you will need antibiotics.
Bacterial transmissions
Many bacterial infections are contagious, meaning that they can be transmitted from person to person. There are many ways this can occur, including: close contact with a person who has a bacterial infection, including touching and kissing.
Once the antibiotic treatment ends, the few remaining bacteria can grow again, restoring the infection. Infections that can't be treated are a significant problem.
They are responsible for many infectious diseases like pneumonia, tuberculosis, diphtheria, syphilis, and tooth decay. Some bacteria cause cellulose degradation thereby destroying textiles, wooden articles, and canvas.
Antibiotics begin to work right after you start taking them. However, you might not feel better for 2 to 3 days. How quickly you get better after antibiotic treatment varies. It also depends on the type of infection you're treating.
How are antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections treated? If an infection shows signs of antibiotic resistance, your healthcare provider may try a different drug. The new drug may have more severe side effects, and trying a different antibiotic also raises the risk of developing resistance to that drug.
Many bacterial infections can be treated successfully with appropriate antibiotics, although antibiotic-resistant strains are beginning to emerge. Immunisation is available to prevent many important bacterial diseases.