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Viral Infection and its types

Viral infection is caused by organisms smaller than fungus or bacterium. There are more than a million viruses, but only 5000 are traced. 

They are created by a genetic substance which has a protein coating.

Viruses hijack normal and living cells and use them to multiply the virus. This may damage your cells and make you sick. These viruses attack different cells in our bodies such as respiratory system, liver or blood. If your immune system is strong, you may not always fall sick.

Generally, antibiotics don't help cure a viral infection. There are some antiviral medicines which may help. Vaccines also prevent you from getting viral diseases. And if you get caught with viral diseases, proper dosage can cure it.

Ways you are prone to infections:

One can get caught by viruses in many ways such as swallowing or inhaling viruses, insect bites or through sexual contact. The symptoms of each viral infection are different; hence diagnosis is different. 

Viruses are of two types:

• DNA virus

• RNA virus.

At times the infected cells don't die; rather they start malfunctioning. And sometimes the infected cells lose control over normal cells and turn out to be cancerous.

Following are the types of viral infections:

Influenza: Influenza also known as flu is caused by the influenza virus. It attacks the lungs, nose, and throat. Paracetamol may cure symptoms but avoid NSAIDs. A vaccine each year may prevent the flu and help in decreasing the complications. 

Following are the symptoms:

• fever;

• muscle aches; 

• runny nose;

• headaches;

• fatigues;

• loss of appetite;

• sweating;

• nausea;

• sore throat.

Hepatitis A: HAV causes contagious liver infection. One can get the virus if they consume anything which has been exposed to the feces from someone who possesses the virus; this virus is rarely dangerous. 

Following are the symptoms:

• Fever;

• Malaise;

• Loss of appetite;

• Nausea;

• Abdominal discomfort;

• Diarrhea;

• Jaundice (pale yellow skin and white-ish eyes).

Everyone may not suffer from all symptoms.

Hepatitis B: This infection affects your liver. It causes liver failure and cancer. It may cost your life if not treated well.

• Following are the symptoms:

• Fever 

• Light-colored feces

• Jaundice

• Loss of appetite 

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Belly pain

You may find out about this only through a blood test as for six months the symptoms aren't visible.

HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus transmits through infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids, breast milk, rectal fluids. 

Please remember no two people will have the same symptoms, hence consulting the doctor is best.

• Following are the symptoms:

• Fever

• Rash

• Upset stomach

• Swollen glands

• Headache

• Sore throat

• Muscles and joints pain

• Ulcers and white tongue.

Measles: A vaccine can prevent this serious viral infection for children.

It is highly contagious and is caused by measles virus which can be found in the mucus of the nose and throat.

Following are the symptoms:

• High fever (begins after a week of being exposed to the virus)

• Runny nose

• Sore throat 

• Red eyes

• Koplik spots (Tiny white bumps in the mouth)

• Blotchy Skin Rash

Ebola: It is a very rare infection but the most dangerous one. If the disease catches you, you will die. It spreads by being in contact with an infected animal like a monkey or fruit bat. Ebola does not transmit by air, water or food. It can be caught by a person who takes care of a sick human or one who buries the dead by the disease. If by chance one has Ebola but no symptoms yet, then the disease cannot be transmitted.

Following are the symptoms:

• Flu

• Lack of Appetite

• Weakness

• Sore throat

• Headache

• High fever

• Joint and muscle aches

• Stomach pain 

When the disease gets worse:

Internal bleeding 

Vomiting or Coughing blood

Diarrhea.

Body parts that affect the most:

When it comes to Influenza, it majorly affects your respiratory track- Nose, Throat, and the tubes that lead to your lungs. It also affects your body as a whole. Constant pain and fever are the results.

Hepatitis A (HAV) affects your liver. People usually get cured, but in some unfortunate cases, people may die because of fulminant hepatitis. The outcome is mostly fatal because this disease is rare. You can get cured sooner if you are treating HAV correctly. And to treat it correctly Pill reminder will help you as it does not only reminds you of your medicine timings but also records all your changes and helps you take the medication in a better way.

Hepatitis B (HBV) also affects your liver, but it happens to be more severe. It causes liver failure and cancer too. It is fatal if ignored. If you get it by birth, it will never go, but if you catch the disease in your adulthood, it won't last long, if treated in the right manner. And once you get rid of it, then you are immune for the rest of your life!

HIV is a non-curable disease. It advances to AIDS where your body becomes prone to opportunistic infections. It destroys CD4+ cells, and your immune system is badly compromised. The advanced treatment may bring some more complicated diseases such as Tuberculosis, pneumonia, and Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumoni (PCP).

It makes your digestive system weak, and hence a loss in appetite can be witnessed. It even affects the cells which support the nervous system. Pills reminder helps you record your daily or weekly (whichever you prefer) plan of side effects, purpose and effectiveness too. This helps you to set up your routine of meals and the rest of the tests. This is very important in any severe disease you go through.

Measles affects your skin, and if it reaches to the parts which can never be exposed to the public, the results can be devastating. It usually starts from behind the ears, spreads to head and nape. In a day or two, the whole body is affected.

Ebola is a life-taking disease. It affects all your internal organs, and there is no cure for this disease. After being infected by the Ebola virus, you may start bleeding internally and externally too. It damages all your organs and immune system too.

The recovery:

All the viral infections have their own damaging area and recovering time. How fast you recover also depends on how strong is your immunity system. Maintaining hygiene and drinking clean water are the most basic majors we can take strict care of.

Vaccines are another important step toward good health. Make sure your medical check-up is done on time. This may help you to diagnose the problem sooner. 

A healthy life is a secret to happy living.