A lower CRP (aOR0.969 95%CI 0.951–0.987, p = 0.001) was an important predictor for viral infection while presence of an eschar (completely absent in the viral group) and a higher CRP (aOR1.032 95%CI 1.014–1.052, p = 0.001) remained as significant predictor variables for bacterial infection on multivariate analysis. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is viral infectious disease.