How do doctors diagnose relatively standard symptoms to be either bacterial or viral infections, particularly without testing?

Question

Standard symptoms in this case include: sore throat, runny nose, facial swelling, mild fever, etc.

I commonly get sinus infections and my practitioner today made me wonder if there are clear differences that medical professionals look for between the two, and what those differences might be.

In: Biology

Answer 1

From my time spent doing sickcall and now as a nurse, I still rely on the color of drainage or exudate in the throat and nose. Also, how long the fever has been present. Feel better!