Bacterial Infections
Description
Infections are diseases caused by invasion of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites in the body. Bacteria are microscopic organisms that can be found in the environment or the body, naturally. Increased load of bacteria or pathogenic bacteria in the body can lead to an infection called bacterial infection. There is a long list of bacterial infections, some of them are:
- Tuberculosis
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections
- Food poisoning
- Whooping cough
- Meningitis
- Ear infections.
Causes
Bacterial infections are caused by toxins produced by bacteria entering your body. These bacteria can enter the body through:
- Contaminated food
- Contaminated water
- Break in skin (wounds)
- Natural openings to body: Mouth and nose.
Risk factors
Following are the risk factors for developing a bacterial infection:
- Weak immune system
- Malnutrition
- Pre-existing diseases
- Poor health and sanitation conditions
- Invasive procedures
- Increased age.
Symptoms
Symptoms of bacterial infections depend upon the site and severity of the infection. General symptoms of a bacterial infection include:
- High body temperature
- Headache
- Cough
- Chills
- Breathing problem
- fatigue.
Diagnosis
To reach a diagnosis, your doctor will ask for your complete medical history and perform a simple physical exam. Bacterial infections are usually diagnosed by sign and symptoms, to confirm the diagnosis your doctor may recommend a few tests, including:
- Urine culture
- Throat and skin swab tests
- Skin biopsy
- Pus culture test
- Blood tests.
Management
The goal of management is to kill the bacteria, stop their growth, and alleviate the symptoms. It includes:
- Medicines:
- Antibiotics
- Pain relievers
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Surgery:
Surgical procedures are indicated to remove the abscess formed from bacterial infection.
When to consult a doctor?
- A doctor should be consulted if the prescribed medication has not been effective in treating your infection.
- Please consult your doctor if you experience side effects after taking the prescribed antibiotic.
- Consult your doctor right away if you experience any symptoms of allergy such as a rash, trouble breathing, swelling of the face or tongue within an hour of taking the antibiotic.