How to tell a viral from a bacterial infection<br>Track the length of your illness. In general, viral infections are milder than bacterial infections, but they tend to last longer. You will feel very sick for 1 to 3 days and then you will start to feel better, but some of your symptoms may linger.
Bacterial infections don't last too long. 
( z1 last :polarity - :ARG1 ( z2 infect :ARG2 ( z3 bacterium ) ) :ARG2 ( z4 long :ARG2-of ( z5 have-degree :ARG1 z2 :ARG3 ( z6 too ) ) ) )