Bacterial infection — what to watch for and what to do
Bacteria cause a lot of everyday illnesses — from sore throats to urinary tract infections. Some clear up on their own, some need antibiotics, and some can get serious fast. This page gives clear, practical steps to spot common bacterial infections, when to see a clinician, and how to avoid making resistance worse.
Common types and typical symptoms
Here are frequent bacterial problems you might see and what they often feel like:
Strep throat — sudden sore throat, fever, swollen tonsils, trouble swallowing. A rapid strep test or throat culture confirms it.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) — burning when peeing, frequent trips to the bathroom, cloudy or strong-smelling urine. A urine dip or culture helps diagnose it.
Skin infections (cellulitis, boils) — red, warm, swollen areas on the skin, sometimes with pus. If redness spreads or you have fever, get checked.
Ear or sinus infections — ear pain, drainage, or thick nasal discharge and face pain. Many are viral, so tests or a doctor’s judgment decide if antibiotics help.
Pneumonia — cough, fever, shortness of breath, chest pain. This can be bacterial or viral; chest X-rays and blood tests guide treatment.
Treatment, tests and simple prevention
Not every infection needs antibiotics. Doctors use tests (swabs, urine cultures, blood work, sometimes X-rays) and symptoms to tell if bacteria are the cause. If antibiotics are prescribed, take them exactly as directed. Stopping early or using leftovers fuels antibiotic resistance.
If an abscess forms, draining it may be the main treatment — antibiotics alone won’t fix a pocket of pus. For minor skin infections, good wound care and topical treatments sometimes work. For severe infections you may need IV antibiotics and hospital care.
Want to lower your risk? Wash hands often, clean and cover wounds, prepare food safely, and keep up with recommended vaccines (like tetanus and pneumococcal shots). Avoid pressuring clinicians for antibiotics for colds or most coughs — those are usually viral and won’t respond.
Watch for danger signs: high fever, breathing trouble, fast heart rate, confusion, or a quickly spreading rash. If you have these, seek urgent care. Also see a doctor if symptoms don’t improve within a couple of days on treatment, or if infections keep coming back.
Final practical tips: don’t share antibiotics, don’t use old prescriptions, store meds as advised, and ask your clinician about culture results and whether the chosen antibiotic is the best match. Good diagnosis and smart use of antibiotics keep you safer and help protect everyone from resistant bugs.
