Viral infection or bacterial infection?

I started with a red throat, a bit scratchy and irritated from nasal drip, then my sinuses became blocked so much that there was pressure to my ear. Then my nose started running with clear mucous, now it is thick creamy to yellow looking, i now also have a pain in my lower throat and have a cough with creamy yellow mucous.

However, I had a swab test when my throat went red and was prescribed antibiotics as a precaution - I know they're good ones too because they normally work. However, I started them on Thursday and am about to finish the course and It is now that I have the cough and mucous etc... I am a lot worse than I was.

I know there IS a virus going round at the moment that is causing similar symptoms, but this cough is productive and my chest can burn with it.

Does this sound viral or bacterial? I know that antibiotics won't touch a virus, is that why they didn't work?

The swab test was negative for bacteria but that was taken last week.

I do think that you got the best treatment. The cough and congestion is normal after having this kind of respiratory infection, your inmune system is trying to get ride of the infection and muccus is its way. The best way to fix this problem is with an expectorant like guafenesin you can get it over the counter is the very popular Mucinex or guafenesin store brand (generic), take 1 tablet twice a day, and try to cough and get "everything" out when you are at home, I know it could be embarazing. Hope it helps. Good luck.

The Doctors told me many years ago the way to tell if it was Viral, your discharge would be clear and if it was Bacterial it would be yellow. I went through the same thing you are going Through now in February. I went to the Doctor and he prescribed Steroids and Arthimycin. I had enough for 7 days but at the end of the medicine, I was in Worse shape than I was. I waited another 7 days to return to the Doctor and found out it had turned in Bronchial Pnuemonia. It took me 8 weeks to get well. Don't let yours get any worse and go to the Doctor ASAP. I wish I had not waited..Get well Soon

You may have got the wrong antibiotic for what you have or you just need a stronger one to kick this things butt. Doctor time, once again.

i had the same thing 3 weeks ago, they first said i had the flu then went back to the doctor cause i still had a head full and my cough got worse and i knew i was not getting any better so i went back to the doctor and they said i had pneumonia , my chest was full of it. if i was u i would go back to the doctor if you are no better by monday . it starts out as viral but goes in to the pneumonia. and the antibiotics will not help if it is a virus thats what my doctor has told me before.