How do I know if I have infection?
There may be general (non-specific) symptoms and/or symptoms specific to where the infection is sited. We will go through them both.
General (non-specific) symptoms of infection
Any infection, including all the ones below, can cause these 10 symptoms:
- Fever – and feeling hot and cold
- Chills/shakes (called rigors)
- Not eating (anorexia)
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Vomiting
- Whole body weakness and feeling generally unwell
- Muscle and joint pains
- Feeling dizzy or faint (can be a sign of low blood pressure) – may be sepsis (severe infection)
- A change in mental state (like confusion, disorientation or slurred speech) – may be sepsis
- Sepsis (severe infection).
The following are the symptoms linked to specific infections.
Symptoms of specific infections
Eyes
– Conjunctivitis (conjunctiva): sore red sticky eyes, with discharge; vision normal
Nose and throat
– Laryngitis/tracheitis (larynx/trachea): sore throat, runny nose, cough, headache, swollen ‘glands’
Ears
– Otitis media (middle ear infection): earache, deafness, tinnitus
Brain
– Meningitis (brain lining): headache, neck stiffness
– Encephalitis (brain): headache, confusion, drowsiness
Chest (upper)
– Bronchitis (bronchi): cough, upper central chest pain, green or yellow sputum
Chest (lower)
– Pneumonia (lungs) : cough, shortness of breath, lower chest pain, green or yellow sputum
Gut (upper)
– Gastroenteritis: diarrhoea, vomiting
Gut (lower)
– Colitis (colon): abdominal pain, diarrhoea
Gall bladder
– Cholecystitis: pain in right upper area of tummy, below ribs
Skin (many)
– Cellulitis: red rash on skin, especially in a lower leg
– Wound infection: redness or swelling around a wound
– Athlete’s foot: an itchy rash between the toes
Urinary
– Cystitis (bladder): pain on passing urine, passing urine more frequently and often at night, cloudy urine; pain in lower central tummy
– Pyelonephritis (kidney): pain on one side of tummy/back (+/- symptoms of cystitis)
Genital
– Prostatitis (prostate): pain (which may be severe), in or around penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen or lower back; pooing can be painful
– Urethritis (urethra): penile or vaginal discharge or itching
Summary
We have described ‘how do I know if I have infection?’ We hope you understand infections better now.
