What characterizes a local infection?

A local infection is characterized by being confined to a specific area of the body. This type of infection typically results in symptoms that are localized and can include redness, swelling, pain, and heat at the site of infection. The body's inflammatory response works to contain the infection, and it typically does not spread widely throughout the bloodstream or other systems in the body.

Options suggesting that the infection affects the whole body or requires hospitalization indicate a systemic nature, which describes conditions such as systemic infections, rather than local infections. Additionally, while some local infections may be caused by viruses, a local infection can be due to various pathogens including bacteria, fungi, and parasites, so restricting it to only viral causes does not accurately represent the definition.