A patient who shows signs of both red and swollen tissues is likely experiencing what kind of infection?

When a patient exhibits signs of red and swollen tissues, it is indicative of a localized infection. This kind of infection occurs in a specific area of the body, triggering an inflammatory response that results in redness, swelling, and often pain in the affected tissues. The localized nature of the symptoms indicates that the infection is contained rather than affecting the entire body.

In contrast, a systemic infection would present with symptoms affecting the whole body, such as fever, chills, and fatigue, resulting from pathogens spreading through the bloodstream. A chronic infection describes a condition that persists over a long period, which may or may not cause acute symptoms; however, chronic infections may not always exhibit inflammation, as they can be more subtle. Lastly, while a viral infection can cause localized symptoms, it is the physical signs of redness and swelling that more specifically point to a localized infection rather than simply being viral in nature.