Viral vs Bacterial Infections

Folliculitis

Type: Bacterial

Details: Pustules surrounding hair follicles

Cellulitis

Type: Bacterial

Details: Warm, red, swollen, and painful skin

Furuncles (boils)

Type: Bacterial

Details: Abscesses of the hair follicle

Carbuncles

Type: Bacterial

Details: Collection of furuncles, most common on back of neck, lower back, and lateral thighs

Erysipelas

Type: Bacterial

Details: Acute superficial infection of upper dermis; firm red spots forming one bright red, hot lesion with raised border

Impetigo

Type: Bacterial

Details: Superficial skin infection caused by coagulase-positive Staphylococcus

Lyme disease

Type: Bacterial

Details: Multisystemic inflammatory disease caused by tick bite; starts with localized erythema migrans

Varicella (chicken pox)

Type: Viral

Details: Primary infection causing small itchy spots all over the body; treated with calamine lotion

Herpes zoster (shingles)

Type: Viral

Details: Later reactivation localized to a dermatome; requires pain management

Herpes simplex

Type: Viral

Details: Occurs in oral and genital areas; clusters of inflamed, painful vesicles that rupture forming a crust

Warts

Type: Viral

Details: Benign lesions of the skin