How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

My dd is going on her 6th day of high temps (102, 103, 104). For her, high temps are normal, just not this many day of it.

At times, it's been as low as normal during the day, with a 103 high that night. Yesterday she had 104 during the day. She's seen the ped already. I've called a number of times & was told "It sounds viral." She's drinking a ton, eating very little.

What is the difference in the way viruses act that would lead them to believe it's viral & not bacterial?

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

Barb, I have always been told that very high temps are a sign of a viral infection. I don't know how true that is, but that's what my dr. has always told me. But for them to tell you that over the phone is a little unsettling.

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

any excretions from the nose or throat that is clear is viral, if it's green it bacerial.

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

I also wanted to add that maybe they've seen a few people in the office with the same symptoms adn that's how they can tell. I tried looking up the difference, all I could find that sounds similar to Maddie's fever is that it might be a UTI

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

Interesting about the UTI...

I think we're headed back tomorrow. Her under the arm temp is 102.7

Thanks for the info!

Message edited 7/18/2008 11:39:05 PM.

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

Damien had a fever that high for 10 days when he was 2 1/2. It was very scary and frustrating because they didn't know what it was and he had all these different blood tests for them to say it is a virus that has to run it's course Not what a Mom with a cranky kid with a fever and no sleep wants to hear. I hope she is on the mend soon

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

Did you take her back to the Dr. today?

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

poor Maddie..

Andrew had a few days of a fever with nothing seemingly wrong... At about 5 days, he was hit with a crushing ear ache and strep throat.

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

anything that is bacterial can usually be diagnosed (strep, sinus infection, ear infection, etc) therefore it requires antibiotics to resolve, a viral infection does not necessarily point to a certain smptom it overall invades the immune sytem and does not create concrete symptoms.
The fever does no necessarily r/o bacterial, becasue my kids get very high fevers regardless. The length of the fever and illness also helps to dictate viral, viral usually lasts oger because it does not respond to abx I hate those high fevers, hope Maddie feels better soon

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

IMO - Dr's say viral when there is no explanation for the fever. BTDT

My DD1 has urinary reflux so we deal with UTI's all of the time. If you think DD has one here are some other things to look for:

Lethargy
Fever
Voiding of urine
Urine smells and is cloudy looking
Complains of pain when peeing or back pain

With my younger DD2 - She just gets unexplained high fever's. Right now it's 103.1 - For the last 3 days.
The ped ran blood a few months ago - Turns out she a little anemic. Her ped said that being anemic can bring about high fever's like that because your more suseptible to bugs.

I do hope DD feels better soon!

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

Anything after 4 days of high temp. my ped. runs blood work to rule out bacterial infection.

Re: How can you tell if an illness is viral or bacterial?

my peds office always takes a blood culture at the office when I bring in Gracie. They test it and if there is bacteria in the blood, it is bacterial. I know right then and there.

Can they do that if you bring her to the ped?