Respirology | APSR Respiratory Medicine Journal

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"I Have A Bacterial Cold, Am I Contagious?" Know What A Doctor Has To Say

A sore throat is a common sign of a respiratory infection. A runny, stuffy nose can also indicate a cold, which is usually caused by a virus. However, sometimes, throat pain or other related symptoms can also signal a bacterial infection. According to Dr Sunita Nagpal, General Physician and Gynaecologist, Salubritas Medical Center, South Delhi, while most colds are caused by viruses, some may be the result of bacterial infections. This is usually a secondary complication after a viral infection, the doctor adds.

Dr Nagpal emphasises the importance of understanding the difference between a viral and a bacterial cold and shares that the treatment may differ. Some people also wonder whether a bacterial cold is also contagious like a viral infection. Here's everything you need to know about the same and what you can do to speed up recovery.

Also Read: Do Cold And Cough Resolve On Their Own Or Should You Take Medicine? Know From An Expert

Is Bacterial Cold Contagious?

In most cases, infectious diseases are either caused by a virus or a bacteria, and just like a viral infection, bacterial infections can also be contagious, says Dr Nagpal. The difference is that the latter does not spread as easily as viral infections.

"A viral cold spreads mainly through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing. However, bacterial infections can spread through direct contact with contaminated surfaces, consuming contaminated food or water, and bites from infected animals.

"If a bacterial infection affects the respiratory system, it can still spread through close contact, coughing, or sneezing."

Bacterial Vs. Viral Cold

For those who don't know, a viral cold is caused by a virus and usually lasts 3-7 days. The symptoms appear gradually and include a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, mild fever and chills, sneezing, and fatigue.

On the other hand, a bacterial cold is more severe and occurs due to a bacterial infection, often as a secondary complication after a viral infection. Symptoms appear suddenly and may include high fever (often above 101°F or 38.3°C), severe sore throat or ear pain, thick, yellow, or green nasal discharge, and pain and pressure in the sinuses. Symptoms usually last more than 10 days or worsen after initial improvement.

It is important to note that bacterial infections require medical attention, while viral infections usually resolve on their own with supportive care.

How To Differentiate Between Viral And Bacterial Infections?

Distinguishing between a bacterial and viral infection can be challenging, but some key factors help:

Blood tests: A complete blood count (CBC) can indicate a bacterial infection if the white blood cell count is significantly elevated.

Culture tests: A throat swab or nasal culture can detect bacterial growth.

Symptom duration: If symptoms last more than 10 days, worsen over time, or include high fever and severe pain, a bacterial infection is more likely.

Also Read: How To Use Antibiotic Eye Drops Safely: A Doctor's Guide To Quick Recovery

Role Of Antibiotics

Antibiotics are necessary for bacterial infections to treat the infection and reduce its severity, prevent complications like sinus infections, ear infections, and pneumonia, and reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others, explains Dr Nagpal, highlighting that antibiotics do not work for viral infections; instead, doctors recommend symptomatic treatment for virals, such as rest, hydration, and Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications.

Using antibiotics for anything other than a bacterial infection can increase the risk of antibiotic resistance, which is a global public health concern, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria develop the ability to survive and grow in the presence of antibiotics. This complication is estimated to have been directly responsible for 10.27 lakh global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 40.95 lakh deaths.

How To Speed Up Recovery From A Bacterial Cold?

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A bacterial infection usually requires proper medical treatments and management. These include:

Taking prescribed antibiotics as directed by your doctor

Resting to allow your body to heal

Drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and soothe the throat

Using a humidifier or steam inhalation to relieve congestion

Gargling with warm salt water to ease throat pain

Taking OTC pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce fever and discomfort

Avoiding contact with others to prevent spreading the infection

By following these steps and seeking medical attention when necessary, you can ensure a faster and smoother recovery from a bacterial cold. If symptoms persist or worsen, consult a doctor for further evaluation.

Conclusion

A cold is usually caused by a virus, which can lead to a bacterial infection. A viral infection often does not require any treatment and resolves on its own with the help of rest and relaxation. On the other hand, bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. Therefore, it is crucial to distinguish between the two infections. Additionally, bacterial infections can also be contagious, even though they are less easy to spread. Therefore, it is important to take necessary measures to curb transmission.

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Highly Contagious Whooping Cough Cases On The Rise

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Two infants in Louisiana have died in the past six months from a respiratory illness that doctors say is preventable. The head physician at Manning Family Children's Hospital warns that more deaths could follow if parents don't take the disease seriously.

At first, the infection may seem like a common cold, but it can quickly turn deadly.

"The serious phase of the disease occurs when fits of coughing happen and with those a child can have oxygen levels dip in the blood, there can be seizures, damage to the brain and even death in rare cases," said Mark Kline, M.D., the Physician-in-Chief at Manning Family Children's.

Kline is talking about whooping cough, also known as pertussis, a highly contagious bacterial infection spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Babies under one year old are at the greatest risk for severe complications.

"Small children have very narrow airways that are more prone to obstruction," Kline explained.

The Louisiana Department of Health reports that about half of babies younger than one who contract whooping cough require hospitalization. While symptoms often begin with a fever, runny nose and mild cough, they can escalate quickly.

"We have seen more cases of whooping cough over the past year or so. In Louisiana there have been over 120 plus cases of whooping cough," Kline stated.

According to CDC data, there were only 12 cases in the state the year before. Louisiana isn't alone.

"In 2024, we saw 471 cases which was a record for recent years," said Kristina Bryant, M.D., the hospital epidemiologist at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.

"We have certainly had children who have been hospitalized for pertussis in the last year," Bryant added.

Bryant, who serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on infectious diseases, expects cases to continue rising.

"We are going to see more cases of whooping cough. CDC has been saying for a number of months now that we're going to see more cases in both vaccinated children and unvaccinated children," she said.

Health experts agree the best way to prevent whooping cough is through vaccination. But it's not a one-time shot.

"It's given to young infants at two, four and six months of age and then to toddlers at about 18 months of age, and then just before a child starts school, typically at four or five years of age," Kline said.

That's the primary series of vaccinations called the DTaP. Then, the Dtap is recommended for kids around age 10 or 11 as well as pregnant women and other adults who haven't gotten it. But Kline says the recommendation isn't always followed.

"All of the children we have seen over the past year with whooping cough have been unvaccinated," Kline commented.

According to Kline, doctors treated 10 kids at Children's in the past six months for whooping cough, and some of them ended up in the ICU.

"Almost all of the children who suffer serious complications from whooping cough either are unvaccinated or under vaccinated, they have not completed that primary series of vaccinations," Kline explained.

Looking at state health department data, the percentage of kindergartners in Louisiana who started the school year in 2021 receiving the DTaP vaccine was 91.32 percent.

The DTaP vaccine includes pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus. By 2023, the number dropped to 90.45 percent. The state health department says two infants died in Louisiana in the last six months. Before that, the previous death from whooping cough in the state was in 2018.

"We thought we were on pace to eliminate diseases like whooping cough," Kline commented.

Last week, Louisiana's Surgeon General, Ralph Abraham, sent a letter to local health departments informing them that the state will no longer promote mass vaccinations.

In New Orleans, health director Jennifer Avegno, M.D., pushes back.

"We do not have to follow this, and we will not be following this. We will continue to promote vaccinations of all kinds," Avegno said.

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