Deseases And Treatment

DISEASES AND TREATMENT:
A viral infection is any type of illness or disease caused by a virus, a type of microbe. Microbes are tiny organisms that cannot be seen without a microscope and include bacteria, fungi, and some parasites, as well as viruses.
A viral infection occurs when a virus enters the body through such processes as breathing air contaminated with a virus, eating contaminatedfood, or by having sexual contact with a person who is infected with a virus. A viral infection may also be caused by an insect bite. In a viral infection, the virus invades the inside of the body's cells in order to reproduce. A virus then spreads to other cells and repeats the process.
This process of viral infection results in a variety of symptoms that vary in character and severity dependingon the type of viral infection and individual factors. Common symptoms of a viral infection include fatigue, flu-like symptoms and fever. For more information on symptoms, refer to symptoms of viral infection.
Many types of viral infections, such as a cold, are self limiting in generally healthy people. This means that the viral infection causes illness for period of time, then it resolves andsymptoms disappear. However, some people are at risk for developing serious complications of viral infection. In addition, certain types of viral infections, such as HIV/AIDS, are not self limiting and cause serious complications and are eventually fatal. For more information on complications and symptoms, refer to symptoms of viral infection.
There are many types of viruses that cause a widevariety of viral infections or viral diseases. For example, there are over 200 different viruses that can cause a cold or an upper respiratory infection. Other common viruses include the influenza virus, which causes influenza or the flu. The Epstein-Barr virus and the cytomegalovirus cause infectious mononucleosis. The varicella zoster virus causes shingles, and chickenpox, and HIV causes AIDS.Making a diagnosis of a viral infection begins with taking a thorough personal and family medical history, including symptoms, and completing a physical examination. Diagnosing some viral infections, such as seasonal influenza, may be made based on a history and physical.
Blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC) may be done. A complete blood count measures the numbers of different types ofblood cells, including white blood cells (WBCs). Different types of WBCs increase in number in characteristic ways during an infectious process, such as viral infection.
A culture test may also be performed. This test requires taking a small sample from the body area that is suspected to be infected with a virus and grows the sample in a lab to determine the type of microorganism causingillness. Common samples tested with a culture include those from the throat, blood, and sputum from the lungs.
Diagnostic tests may also include a lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap, which involves withdrawing a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the spine with a needle. The sample of CSF is tested for white blood cells and other indications of viral infection that may be in thespine or brain, such as viral meningitis.
X-rays may be performed to assist in the diagnosis of some viral infections. This may include taking a chest X-ray for suspected cases of viral pneumonia. Additional tests may be performed in order to rule out or confirm other diseases that may accompany viral infection or cause similar symptoms, such as a secondary bacterial infection.
It is possiblethat a diagnosis of viral infection can be missed or delayed because some symptoms, such as fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, are similar to symptoms of other diseases. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of viral infection.
Viral infections are not curable with antibiotics. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of viral infection.
Viral diseases:...