Bacterial Diseases: Symptoms

What are the symptoms of bacterial diseases?

Symptoms of bacterial diseases vary depending on the type of bacterial infection, the area of the body that is infected, and other factors, such as the patient’s age and health history. The symptoms of bacterial diseases can also resemble symptoms of other diseases, such as colitis, influenza, and viral infections. The classic symptom of a bacterial infection is a fever, although not all people with a bacterial infection will have a fever.

Bacterial disease symptoms can include:

• Bloody urine and painful, frequent urination

• Diarrhea

• Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, sore throat, headache, cough, aches and pains)

• Irritability

• Nausea and vomiting

• Pain such as joint, ear or abdominal pain

• Rashes, lesions and abscesses

• Stiff neck

• Weakness

In infants, signs of a bacterial disease can also include:

• Bulging of the soft spot on the top of the head 

• Difficulty with feeding

• Excessive crying or fussiness

• Excessive sleepiness

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

In some cases, bacterial diseases can result in serious or life-threatening complications, such as sepsis or kidney failure. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of the following symptoms:

• Confusion or delirium

• Deep, wet chest cough that produces yellow, green or brownish phlegm

• Difficulty breathing, wheezing or shortness of breath

• High fever (higher than 101 degrees)

• Inappropriate change in alertness or level of consciousness

• Infants: sunken fontanel (soft spot) on the top of the head, lethargy, no tears with crying, and few or no wet diapers

• Lethargy or unresponsiveness

• Not urinating or urinating small amounts of tea-colored urine

• Seizure