what is viral disease?
Chickenpox
Flu (influenza)
Herpes
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS)
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Infectious mononucleosis
Mumps, measles and rubella
Shingles
Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
Viral hepatitis
Viral meningitis
Viral pneumonia
Viral diseases are contagious and spread from person to person when a virus enters the body and begins to multiply. Common ways that viruses spread from person to person include:
a)Breathing in air-borne droplets contaminated with a virus
b)Eating food or drinking water contaminated with a virus
c)Having sexual contact with a person who is infected with a sexually transmitted virus
d)Indirect transmission from person to person by a virus host, such as a mosquito, tick, or field mouse
e)Touching surfaces or body fluids contaminated with a virus.
Viral diseases are not treatable with antibiotics, which can only cure bacterial diseases and infections. However, the most common viral diseases, the common cold and the flu, are self-limiting in generally healthy people. This means that the viral infection causes illness for a period of time, then it resolves and symptoms disappear as your immune system attacks the virus and your body recovers.
In some cases, viral diseases can lead to serious, possibly life-threatening complications, such as dehydration, bacterial pneumonia, and other secondary bacterial infections.
symptoms of viral diseases
Symptoms of viral diseases vary depending on the specific type of virus causing infection, the area of the body that is infected, the age and health history of the patient, and other factors. The symptoms of viral diseases can affect almost any area of the body or body system. Symptoms of viral diseases can include:
a)Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, sore throat, headache, cough, aches and pains)
b)Gastrointestinal disturbances, such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
c)Irritability
d)Malaise (general ill feeling)
e)Rash
f)Sneezing
g)Stuffy nose, nasal congestion, runny nose, or postnasal drip
h)Swollen lymph nodes
i)Swollen tonsils
j)Unexplained weight loss
In infants, signs of a viral disease can also include:
Bulging of the soft spot on the top of the head
Difficulty with feeding
Excessive crying or fussiness
Excessive sleepiness
Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition
In some cases, viral diseases can result in serious complications, such as dehydration or pneumonia. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of the following symptoms:
Change in alertness or level of consciousness
Chest pain
Deep, wet chest cough that produces yellow, green or brownish phlegm
High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
Lethargy or unresponsiveness
Seizure
Shortness of breath, wheezing, or difficulty breathing
Stiff neck
Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
What causes viral diseases?
Viral infections occur when a virus enters the body and invades the inside of the body’s cells in order to reproduce. If the body’s immune system is unable to fight off the virus, it multiplies and spreads to other cells, repeating the process and leading to a widespread infection.
Types of viruses
There are many types of viruses that cause a wide variety of viral infections or viral diseases. In fact, there are more than 200 different viruses that can cause a cold or an upper respiratory infection. Other common viruses include the following:
a)Epstein-Barr virus causes infectious mononucleosis (cytomegalovirus causes a very similar disease in some people).
b)Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS.
c)Human papillomaviruses (HPV) cause HPV infection, cervical dysplasia, genital warts, and cervical cancer.
d)Influenza viruses, such as H1N1, cause influenza (flu).
e)Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes lower respiratory tract infections in young children.
f)Rhinoviruses cause the common cold.
g)Rotavirus, enteroviruses and noroviruses cause viral gastroenteritis.
h)Varicella zoster virus causes shingles and chickenpox.
i)West Nile virus causes West Nile fever.
Various ways to become infected with a virus
You can catch a virus in a variety of ways including:
Being bitten by an animal infected with a virus
Being bitten by an insect infected with a virus, such as with West Nile virus
Breathing in air-borne droplets contaminated with a virus
Eating food or drinking water contaminated with a virus
Having sexual contact with a person who is infected with a sexually transmitted virus
Sharing needles for tattooing or drug use with an infected person
Touching infected feces or body fluids and not washing your hands before eating or touching your mouth, eyes or nose
Touching surfaces contaminated with a virus
Transmission of a virus from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or delivery
a)Breathing in air-borne droplets contaminated with a virus
b)Eating food or drinking water contaminated with a virus
c)Having sexual contact with a person who is infected with a sexually transmitted virus
d)Indirect transmission from person to person by a virus host, such as a mosquito, tick, or field mouse
e)Touching surfaces or body fluids contaminated with a virus.
Viral diseases are not treatable with antibiotics, which can only cure bacterial diseases and infections. However, the most common viral diseases, the common cold and the flu, are self-limiting in generally healthy people. This means that the viral infection causes illness for a period of time, then it resolves and symptoms disappear as your immune system attacks the virus and your body recovers.
In some cases, viral diseases can lead to serious, possibly life-threatening complications, such as dehydration, bacterial pneumonia, and other secondary bacterial infections.
symptoms of viral diseases
Symptoms of viral diseases vary depending on the specific type of virus causing infection, the area of the body that is infected, the age and health history of the patient, and other factors. The symptoms of viral diseases can affect almost any area of the body or body system. Symptoms of viral diseases can include:
a)Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, sore throat, headache, cough, aches and pains)
b)Gastrointestinal disturbances, such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
c)Irritability
d)Malaise (general ill feeling)
e)Rash
f)Sneezing
g)Stuffy nose, nasal congestion, runny nose, or postnasal drip
h)Swollen lymph nodes
i)Swollen tonsils
j)Unexplained weight loss
In infants, signs of a viral disease can also include:
Bulging of the soft spot on the top of the head
Difficulty with feeding
Excessive crying or fussiness
Excessive sleepiness
Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition
In some cases, viral diseases can result in serious complications, such as dehydration or pneumonia. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of the following symptoms:
Change in alertness or level of consciousness
Chest pain
Deep, wet chest cough that produces yellow, green or brownish phlegm
High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
Lethargy or unresponsiveness
Seizure
Shortness of breath, wheezing, or difficulty breathing
Stiff neck
Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
What causes viral diseases?
Viral infections occur when a virus enters the body and invades the inside of the body’s cells in order to reproduce. If the body’s immune system is unable to fight off the virus, it multiplies and spreads to other cells, repeating the process and leading to a widespread infection.
Types of viruses
There are many types of viruses that cause a wide variety of viral infections or viral diseases. In fact, there are more than 200 different viruses that can cause a cold or an upper respiratory infection. Other common viruses include the following:
a)Epstein-Barr virus causes infectious mononucleosis (cytomegalovirus causes a very similar disease in some people).
b)Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS.
c)Human papillomaviruses (HPV) cause HPV infection, cervical dysplasia, genital warts, and cervical cancer.
d)Influenza viruses, such as H1N1, cause influenza (flu).
e)Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes lower respiratory tract infections in young children.
f)Rhinoviruses cause the common cold.
g)Rotavirus, enteroviruses and noroviruses cause viral gastroenteritis.
h)Varicella zoster virus causes shingles and chickenpox.
i)West Nile virus causes West Nile fever.
Various ways to become infected with a virus
You can catch a virus in a variety of ways including:
Being bitten by an animal infected with a virus
Being bitten by an insect infected with a virus, such as with West Nile virus
Breathing in air-borne droplets contaminated with a virus
Eating food or drinking water contaminated with a virus
Having sexual contact with a person who is infected with a sexually transmitted virus
Sharing needles for tattooing or drug use with an infected person
Touching infected feces or body fluids and not washing your hands before eating or touching your mouth, eyes or nose
Touching surfaces contaminated with a virus
Transmission of a virus from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or delivery
What are the risk factors for contracting viral diseases?
Viral diseases can occur in any age group or population. Everybody contracts viral diseases during their life, although in some cases, the virus does not cause obvious symptoms. Risk factors for catching a viral disease or developing complications of a viral disease include:
Advanced age
Compromised immune system due to an immunodeficiency disorder, HIV/AIDS, cancer or cancer treatment, kidney disease, or other condition
History of chronic disease, such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, tuberculosis, or heart disease
Malnourishment
Not getting enough rest and having high levels of stress
Not washing your hands frequently, especially before eating or after using the restroom, or after touching common surfaces
Sharing needles to inject drugs or for tattooing
Unprotected sex including vaginal, oral and anal sex with a partner who has had one or more other sexual partners
Young age including infancy and elementary-school-age children
Reducing your risk of viral diseases
You can lower your risk of catching or spreading a viral disease by:
Abstaining from sexual activity, or only engaging in sexual activities within a mutually monogamous relationship in which neither partner is infected with a sexually transmitted disease
Avoiding contact of your hands with your eyes, nose and mouth, which can transmit a virus into the body
Avoiding contact with a person who has a viral disease
Covering your mouth and nose with your elbow (not your hand) or a tissue when sneezing or coughing
Eating a well-balanced diet that includes sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables
Sufficient rest
Using a new condom for each sex act
Using a sterile, unused needle for each act of tattooing or injectable drug use
Using appropriate antibacterial cleaners to clean your hands and surfaces
Vaccination as recommended by your health care provider for viral diseases, such as chickenpox, shingles, influenza, HPV, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, measles, and mumps
Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds after contact with a person who has a viral disease, before eating, or after using the restroom or touching feces, body fluids, surfaces, or foods that are potentially contaminated with viruses
How are viral diseases treated?
Treatment of viral infections varies depending on the specific virus and other factors. General treatment measures are aimed at relieving your symptoms so that you can get the rest you need to keep up your strength and recover without developing complications.
General treatments for viral infections include:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) for fever, body aches, and pain
Drinking extra fluids
Getting extra rest and sleep
Maintaining good nutrition
Depending on the type of viral infection and the presence of complications, a wide variety of other treatments may be needed.
For example, a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection that leads to cervical dysplasia can be treated by surgical removal of the abnormal cells on a woman’s cervix.
In general, it is recommended that children younger than age six not use cold or cough medications because of the risk for serious side effects. In addition, people with a viral disease should not use aspirin or products that contain aspirin because of the risk of developing a rare but life-threatening condition called Reye syndrome. Reye syndrome has been linked to taking aspirin during a viral illness, such as a cold or the flu.
Prescription medications used to treat viral diseases
In some cases, certain medications may be prescribed to treat viral diseases:
Antiretroviral medications, which can help people with HIV/AIDS lead longer lives. Antiretroviral medications hinder the ability of HIV to reproduce, which slows the spread of HIV in the body.
Antiviral drugs, which minimize the severity and length of some viral infections, such as the flu and shingles, especially in people who are at a high risk for serious complications. For example, the drugs oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu) and zanamivir (brand name Relenza) may be prescribed for some cases of flu. These drugs are not appropriate for all people with the flu.
Antibiotics, which are not prescribed for viral diseases because they are ineffective in the treatment of viral infections, may be prescribed if a person with a viral disease develops a secondary bacterial infection, such as bacterial pneumonia, bacterial bronchitis, or encephalitis.
Complementary treatments
Complementary and traditional treatments will not cure a viral disease but may help to increase comfort, promote rest, and minimize symptoms of viral diseases. Some possible treatments include:
Chicken soup to help break up congestion and provide easy-to-digest nutrients and extra fluids to help keep up strength
Supplements or products that contain vitamin C, echinacea, or zinc
Using a vaporizer
Using mentholated ointments on the chest
What are the possible complications of viral diseases?
In some people, viral diseases can break down the body’s defenses and lead to more serious infections and life-threatening complications. Therefore, it is important to visit your health care provider when you have symptoms of a viral infection. Once the underlying infection has been determined, following the treatment plan outlined by your health care provider can help reduce any potential complications including:
Acute bronchitis
Cervical cancer (from human papillomavirus infection)
Dehydration
Frequent life-threatening, opportunistic infections
Otitis media (ear infection)
Pneumonia
Secondary bacterial infection
Seizures
Shock and coma
Sinusitis
Worsening of asthma
Prevention
Following simple steps can greatly reduce the risk of contracting a virus. Use bandages to cover scrapes, cuts or open sores at all times. Do not eat, drink, touch your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands and avoid handling pens, pencils or other items that belong to others. Never drink from someone else's beverage containers or eat from another persons soiled utensils. Frequent hand washing is highly recommended with soap and warm running water or an alcohol based sanitizing hand gel.
Cleaning
Bleach based products are extremely effective in killing 99.9% of germs and viruses in, and around, the home. If the cost of bleach based cleansers is an issue, 1 1/2 cups of chlorine bleach to a gallon of fresh water will clean with the same effectiveness. You may add a few drops of dish detergent to the mixture for a soapy consistency.
Regular cleaning is recommended for door handles, bathroom sinks, toilets and toothbrush holders in an effort to reduce the chances of contracting a strain of flu or the common cold.
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