What viruses are: types, classification, characteristics, viral diseases, treatment and consequences. Viral diseases

They lived on our planet long before us... Viruses are very different - some of them lead to the common flu, others to. It's the latter that we'll talk about. What viruses are currently considered?

1 Ebola virus

It shook up the entire globe, reminding people that in some cases medicine also throws up its hands. It appeared in Africa and advanced to Europe and America at an alarming rate. Given globalization and the lack of borders and customs for viruses, there remains a possibility that this killing hemorrhagic fever will end up on our territory. There are many ways and means of spread, the most common being infection from a sick person through his blood.

2 Rabies virus

Rabies is different in that it can affect both people and animals, in particular dogs, cats, wild animals (wolf, fox, hedgehog), and less commonly birds. The virus enters the blood and causes severe damage to the nervous system; Treatment with a rabies vaccine is mandatory. Once symptoms appear in a person, the disease is incurable.

3 Human immunodeficiency virus

The human immunodeficiency virus, the plague of the 21st century, causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), which undermines the work of the entire body, and most of all. Since the first case was registered (early 90s of the twentieth century), more than 25 million people have died from AIDS. There is no vaccine for it, and now the search for a vaccine against HIV is one of the extremely pressing issues.

4 Variola virus

It is called Variola and has 2 varieties: Minor - leads to death in 1-3% of cases - and Major - fatal outcome, according to some data, occurs in 90% of cases (wow, “major”...). Despite the fact that cases of smallpox are mentioned in the ancient Egyptian papyrus of Amenophis I, written 4 thousand years BC, the cause of this terrible disease, which deprives people if not of life, then of sight, was established only at the beginning of the twentieth century. , and only in the 70s did humanity manage to “pacify” the smallpox virus.

5 Influenza virus

It has three genera A, B and C and strains H1, H2, H3, as well as N1 and N2. Infection occurs through airborne droplets, so it often develops into a pandemic. An example of this is the Spanish flu, from which more than 50 million people died, as well as the bird flu that recently spread across our land, which was neutralized. Despite the huge number of drugs, the most reliable means of preventing the disease is vaccination. All age groups are susceptible to the flu, so stay away from sneezing and coughing fellow citizens.

6 Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Causes hepatitis type B - the most common infectious disease liver in the world. In 20-30% of cases it leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer, and can also develop into a chronic form. In some parts of Asia, 10% of the population are carriers of chronic hepatitis B.

7 Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Causes a severe form of hepatitis. Hepatitis C is called the “gentle killer”: it is asymptomatic (most infected people feel great for many years), in 70-80% of cases it becomes chronic. There is no treatment or vaccine for it.

8 Virus of the family Flaviviridae

Causes yellow fever, an acute viral disease that can be contracted from a mosquito bite in the tropics and subtropics of Africa and South America. It is called “yellow” because of the jaundice that develops in many patients. This disease ends in death in half of the cases. Since the 80s XX century The incidence of yellow fever has begun to increase again, and there are many reasons for this: decreased human immunity, climate change, urbanization and even deforestation.

9 Arboviruses of the family Flaviviridae

Causes a disease called Dengue fever. This disease received its second name - bone crush fever - for its symptoms: pain in the spine and joints, especially the knees. It is also accompanied by chills, elevated body temperature, nausea, redness of the face and eyes, and rash. It has 2 forms of the disease, with the more severe – hemorrhagic – death occurs in 50% of cases.

10 Rotavirus

Causes the so-called rotavirus gastroenteritis, or “stomach flu” - an acute intestinal infection. Main danger consists of severe dehydration of the body. Modern medicine has learned to cope with this disease, but in countries where there is no adequate medical treatment, rotavirus poses a serious threat: it claims 61,000 lives every year.
Scary? And yet, there is already a precedent for curing a person from the Ebola virus, and work on a vaccine against HIV does not stand still.

Infectious diseases are combined into a whole group of diseases caused by various agents. The virus enters the body in various ways, may already be in the body and manifest itself under certain circumstances. The main routes of infection are:

hematogenous (injections, non-sterile instruments, blood transfusions, dialysis procedures);
fecal-oral (through kissing, food or water, excrement);
through insect bites, bodies of water (for example, E. coli).

A viral infection enters the body and begins its development within various organs or systems. Viral infection has fundamental differences, which are expressed in the following aspects:

incubation period (can range from several days to ten years);
prodrome period (activation of the virus after incubation);
the height of the disease.

This scheme is suitable for any type of infection, from the usual ARVI to AIDS or hepatitis. Infectious diseases are very contagious, so the epidemiology of the disease is always large-scale. Treatment of viral infections should be carried out in hospitals, since at the height of the disease there are only two outcomes: recovery or death of the patient. A common viral infection in adults lasts from 7 to 10 days.

Paradoxically, when this carrier reproduces, it dies, and the patient begins to feel much worse. When a virus enters the body, especially during the prodrome, malaise is felt throughout the body. It is rare for the patient to clearly indicate the location of the pain, discomfort. Usually all organs and systems are affected to one degree or another.

Main types

All viral infectious agents can be roughly classified into rapid and slow. The slower the reaction or intensity of development of the pathology, the more dangerous the virus is to human life. This is due to the long absence of symptoms, which means a great destructive impact. Among the main and common viruses are:

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Herpetic infections. The herpes virus exists in the tissues of any human body, but becomes aggravated only in the presence of provoking mechanisms. Some people are completely unaware of this disease until the end of their lives. A characteristic sign of herpes is the appearance of blisters in different parts of the body.
Encephalitis. Encephalitis affects the membranes of the brain, causing irreversible damage to the central nervous system, human consciousness. The mortality rate of the disease is high. The disease is often accompanied by coma, convulsions, paralysis of the limbs and the whole body. Encephalitis provokes the development of multiple organ failure and patient death in almost 90%.
ARVI. The ARVI virus infects the human respiratory system, causing the characteristic symptoms of colds and flu. These signs are known to almost all patients. The danger of a viral infection lies in the chronicity of the disease or in dangerous complications (bronchitis, pneumonia).
Viral hepatitis. The disease is characterized by damage to the liver and hepatic structures. Against the background of the development of pathology, persistent impairments in the functionality of the organ are formed, serious complications that can lead to the death of the patient.
Meningitis. Meningococcal infection is localized in the subcortical part of the brain and infects the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Distributed throughout the body through the bloodstream. Despite adequate therapy, persistent disturbances of consciousness and atrophy of the muscular structure of the limbs persist.
Polio. The development of the disease is accompanied by severe convulsions, loss of consciousness, and inflammation of the spinal cord. Paralysis often occurs. Usually the disease leads to profound disability for the patient.
Measles. Measles is characterized by the appearance of a red rash on different parts of the body, persistent hyperthermia, and cough. The measles virus is a relatively harmless condition, but often provokes complications such as meningitis or encephalitis.
Sexual infections. Frequent view infections known during the formation of any society. Today, this type of infection is highly treatable, provided it is detected early.

Each group of infections represents a huge list of diseases. The nature of the disease determines the degree of danger of the infectious agent. Timely diagnosis, attention to one’s own body, and preventive vaccination protect children and adults from the dangerous consequences of infection.

General signs

Signs viral infection in adults directly depend on the nature of the damaging agent, its location and degree of spread. Common signs include:

slight chills;
muscle weakness and soreness;
sensitive skin to contact;
swollen lymph nodes;
persistent body temperature;
disruption of the functioning of certain organs;
lacrimation, sore throat, cough.

The main difference between ARVI and regular flu is the manifestation in the first case of symptoms of infection, followed by the addition of disorders of the respiratory system. Respiratory diseases usually begin immediately with laryngitis or pharyngitis. For example, when a herpetic infection worsens, patients experience the appearance of blistering formations in different parts of the body, their health worsens, and irritability and pain appear in the areas of the blisters. Meningococcal infection manifests itself with severe symptoms with pain in the head, confusion, severe deterioration in health and other characteristic signs.

Indications for hospitalization

If the usual signs of ARVI do not frighten many patients and they are able to give an objective assessment of their condition, then the following are the symptoms of a viral infection in adults, which require immediate consultation with a doctor:

maintaining high temperature;
fainting, loss of consciousness:
confusion, tremors in the limbs;
cough with sputum;
fever;
pain behind the sternum, insufficient inspiration;
the appearance of a rash (redness, large blisters, large spots);
severe headache radiating to the neck;
coughing up blood;
pastiness of the face or swelling of the limbs.

Such symptoms can be regarded as a complication of a common acute respiratory viral infection, the onset of a serious brain disease. If your immune system is unstable and your condition worsens due to colds, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnosis of viral infections is as follows:

visual inspection sick;
studying the patient’s clinical history;
immunological study:
chest x-ray;
urine, blood, stool tests.

Differential diagnosis consists of excluding life-threatening conditions. If necessary, doctors prescribe an MRI of the brain, additional blood tests for various enzymes, and other studies. A timely visit to a doctor will save the patient’s health and life.

Treatment tactics

The treatment tactics for viral infections consist of following the following algorithms:

elimination of the cause of the disease (provoking mechanisms);
elimination of unpleasant symptoms (pain, dyspeptic disorders, respiratory disorders, other factors);
bed rest and special diet.

Drug treatment of a viral infection begins after an accurate diagnosis and clarification of the provoking factors. So what should you take for this disease? A typical ARVI involves prescribing the following medications:

non-steroidal drugs (relieve inflammation, reduce fever, relieve pain);
antihistamines (have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic effects);
local nasal drops (vasoconstrictors for runny nose, swelling and severe nasal congestion);
throat remedies (relieve redness, swelling, disinfect and soothe irritated mucous membranes);
antitussives (promote the separation of sputum, eliminate spasms during the cough reflex, reduce irritation in the bronchi and disinfect).

For other mechanisms of pathology, appropriate drugs are prescribed to increase local immunity and eliminate characteristic symptoms. For example, for the treatment of genital infections, local drugs of specific administration are prescribed for men and women; for herpetic infections, it is necessary to prescribe antiviral drugs for local and internal use. Enteroviral intestinal infection requires special drugs from the group of absorbents. It is important to understand that taking antibiotics for viral infections is not only pointless, but also very dangerous for the condition of the kidneys, liver or stomach. The right thing to do is to drink plenty of fluids.

Proper and nutritious nutrition, healthy lifestyle, lack of bad habits, increasing local immunity allows you to maintain the health of any patient for a long time. In case of a burdened clinical history, it is important to undergo regular examinations and carry out preventive vaccinations. Preventing a disease or episodes of its exacerbation during a chronic course is much easier than starting to treat it.

Large-scale epidemics of various diseases have accompanied humanity for as long as it can remember. History contains evidence of massive plague epidemics (“the Black Death,” as it was called) in the period from the 15th to the 18th centuries, when London alone was missing 400 thousand inhabitants. The plague was brought by ordinary house rats, of which there were many in abundance at that time. In the 19th and 20th centuries, cholera and the Spanish flu raged, which wiped out most of the population of large cities, including in Russia. At the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century, HIV and many other dangerous infections appeared - bird flu, swine flu, Ebola fever... Each era has its own infections that pose a danger. And they arise for a reason; everything in this world has its own biological meaning. Let's talk to you - where do these deadly infections come from and where do they go?

Diseases have always been a powerful weapon in evolution; due to them, paradoxically, peace on Earth is being improved. It is epidemics that reveal the flaws and weaknesses of living beings - the weak die, the strong survive and multiply, while nature knows no pity. Natural selection is at work. In which man is increasingly interfering through the development of science and technology. For example, after the most powerful plague epidemics, the surviving people began to live 20 years longer than before - but this was paid for at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives, almost a third of the population. Today, plague and cholera are no longer dangerous; there are effective medicines for them. People invented antibiotics, their immunity became much better, and their diet became more varied. But today other infections have begun to appear - we don’t yet know how to treat viruses, and they occupy the vacated niche. And people themselves also add to the collection of infections by developing the most terrible thing - biological weapons, mainly viruses of deadly or very dangerous mass infections, including the now infamous Ebola fever.

Viruses and their role

Viruses are by far the most common cause of various epidemics and pandemics, although viruses are among the oldest particles of life. Many scientists call viruses the main evolution, since they are capable of causing mutations in living organisms, leading to the acquisition of new properties. But viruses can also kill a person, especially if used as a weapon. Viruses penetrate everywhere, they have been found in the ocean, on land, in the air, they are not afraid of high and low temperatures, one of the conditions for their existence and reproduction is the presence of life - these can be both unicellular and multicellular organisms and humans. It is important that there are cells with foreign DNA or RNA where the virus can replicate (multiply).

It is impossible to calculate the total number of viruses on earth, and it is also impossible to say with accuracy where the viruses came from. According to one theory, viruses were among the first to arise on earth at the stage of formation of the first rudiments of living elements. According to another version, they are fragments of DNA or RNA from cells of larger organisms; according to a third theory, they were taken from the simplest microorganisms through simplification. But no one denies that viruses are the oldest particles on Earth. Simultaneously with life, the creatures of death appeared - viruses.

But not all scientists perceive viruses as clearly harmful particles and time bombs. Many perceive viruses very positively - as particles that improve living organisms. According to the viral theory of evolution, if there were no viruses, we would still be single-celled primitive creatures. Their main merit is the introduction into one organism and the borrowing of genes from it with their transfer to another living organism upon contact. And in this case, in the future, these new genes will be adapted by new organisms to their new needs. Viruses are responsible for such necessary changes as the formation of the placenta in mammals and the ability to bear children. Therefore, what was created by nature and began to work perfectly will never disappear from nature. For example, having originated in dinosaurs, hemoglobin was transmitted with the help of viruses to plants, insects and animals, and then to humans. Hemoglobin performs different functions for everyone - but in initial structure very similar to one another.

Dangerous viruses

Among the most dangerous viruses for humans are the family of so-called retroviruses. They primarily affect humans and creatures biologically close to them. This group of viruses is capable of transferring their information into host cells. It was this group of viruses that became driving force evolution and due to them various new characteristics develop as a result of mutations. However, it is retroviruses, by fateful coincidence, that are also the cause of many incurable chronic and fatal human diseases, including the notorious HIV, some cancers of viral origin and others. New dangerous viruses arise as a result of mutations and can appear anywhere and anytime, but on globe there are particularly favorable places for their occurrence and spread. Scientists have even recently compiled special maps of such “hot spots” on the planet, from which new “deadly” epidemics can be expected.

The main ones were countries with a humid tropical climate - the region of the mouth of the Niger River in Africa, Hindustan and Southeast Asia. In addition to the climate, this is due to the extremely low level of sanitary culture, primary study of viruses and the development of measures to combat them. But to think that our country is completely safe in relation to new viruses is also reckless - we have our own hot spots in terms of dangerous epidemics - this is the Far Eastern region, where dangerous viral infections involving insect vectors are widespread, and the Southern regions, where the risks are also high various fevers. Studying the map dangerous infections continues.

Hot issues of epidemics?

A logical question arises: if there are so many deadly viruses around us, why do epidemics and pandemics arise only from time to time and roll in like waves? The opinion of scientists on this issue has not yet found unity - some believe that these are newly emerged mutated viruses to which the human immune system has not yet developed antibodies. Or the emergence of an infection in a society that has been isolated for a long time, and then spreading to other groups of people. This opinion is confirmed by the fact that colonists arriving from Europe became sources of massive epidemics of dangerous diseases among the indigenous population of newly discovered territories, who were not protected by immunity from unfamiliar viruses and microbes. The immunity characteristics of the Negroid race, Indians and Asians also differ from Caucasians - this is the reason for outbreaks of epidemics.

Another constant reason for the periodic occurrence of deadly epidemics among people is the influence of nature - physical factors and climate. If we recall the history of the mass pandemics of the “Black Death” in medieval Europe, which killed about 60 million people, then it was preceded by a number of global cataclysms - the eruption of Mount Etna in 1333 led to warm and damp weather, and within a few years of this Germany and France suffered from rains and floods, which led to crop failures, livestock death and insect infestations. All this caused hunger and the proliferation of hordes of rodents. This created particularly favorable conditions for the occurrence of plague.

Our century is also characterized by climate instability. Volcanic eruptions and floods, strong earthquakes and tsunamis, environmental deterioration as a result of human activity create conditions for the formation of new diseases. This is also proven by studies of viral activity - over the past 60 years, the number of dangerous viruses that have mutated and acquired “deadly” properties has increased 5 times. Nature takes revenge on man for actively interfering with its laws!

And people themselves are actively creating the threat of deadly infections and epidemics. The idea of using dangerous viruses and microbes to suppress opponents in wars arose precisely because this means is massive and merciless. Today, various types of biological weapons are being actively developed, despite the international convention of 1972 banning the development, storage and production of such weapons. Many countries are conducting such developments under the seal of secrecy and scientific research. And it’s not for nothing that various disaster films periodically appear on screens – there is some common sense in them! These fears are not unfounded - samples of the smallpox virus, which is considered destroyed in the natural environment, are available in laboratories in Russia and the USA, but there is no immunity against it; most of the population has lost it, despite the presence of a vaccine against it. And the smallpox vaccination itself is very difficult to tolerate. And the same thing is with the sensational Ebola virus - it was also developed as a variant of a biological weapon, and those who studied it simultaneously developed a vaccine, and for more than one year. Who knows why now and where the latest epidemic came from?

Ebola fever - details

This infection has been known for a long time and its outbreaks occur periodically in West Africa, only this year the scale of the epidemic is somewhat larger than always, plus there is a lot of hype in the media - hence the pathological interest in Ebola. Therefore, let’s look at it in a little more detail and find out something.

People of any race and gender can become infected with Ebola, and the virus is transmitted from person to person. But the first person to get sick had to get the virus from animals or from the environment. Africa is no different high level life - they eat everything that moves, including small rodents. According to scientists, the Ebola virus circulates in nature among bats, which are actively eaten as a delicacy. The virus is transmitted from person to person through blood, saliva, semen and other biological fluids. But it is not transmitted by airborne droplets like influenza or ARVI!

The epidemic in Africa arose due to local traditions and mentality, because of which sick people do not go to doctors, are treated and die at home, and their loved ones actively care for them and are in close contact. And the corpses are not burned - they are taken away wild animals, which people actively eat! In addition, it is their tradition to kiss and hug the deceased, who are most contagious at the time of death. And given the heavy physical labor and the presence of minor injuries to the arms and legs, such close contact leads to infection. Of the Europeans, those who became infected were mainly those who were either doctors or missionaries in Africa - that is, they had close contact and cared for the sick - they could have been exposed to both the blood and vomit of the sick. If, purely theoretically, an Ebola patient enters our country and walks through the market, he will not infect anyone!

The danger of Ebola is that there is no vaccine yet and there is no cure for the virus - only its symptoms can be treated, but even today the mortality rate from Ebola is about 50%, that is, half of the patients recover, the weakened and the most exhausted die.

Is Ebola dangerous for Russia? If these are imported cases from African countries, in our harsh conditions the virus does not survive - we do not have animals that could carry it. And even if the patient makes his way to us, the incubation period lasts from two to 21 days, and the patient is not contagious. It becomes dangerous with the onset of the first manifestations (fever, bleeding and vomiting). It’s easy to pick out such a person from the crowd; you shouldn’t hug or kiss him, then Ebola won’t threaten you! Plus, let's hope that a vaccine against this dangerous infection will soon be obtained.

Flu - great and terrible

If there is a lot of hype about Ebola fever, then everyone has somehow become accustomed to epidemics of the influenza virus. We are no longer afraid of him bright names: “pig”, “bird”, and other animal characteristics. Meanwhile, the flu is much more widespread and no less dangerous. People also die from it every year! The progenitor of the famous “swine” flu called “Spanish flu” killed about 50 million people in 1918, which is about 5% of the population! And in mid-2009, the H1N1 viral strain with very similar properties reappeared, leading to a new pandemic and killing thousands of people. It was followed by bird flu and the SARS virus, which increased the death toll. According to WHO, this is up to 500 thousand people worldwide.

Why is the flu so rampant and mutating so much, how can we determine what it will be like in the near future, and how to protect ourselves?

Scientists see the reason for such frequent occurrence of influenza epidemics in the changing demographic situation. According to UN forecasts, the world's population could reach 9.5 billion by mid-century, and 11 billion by the end of the century. This is a huge figure - 4 billion more than today. And in the middle of the last century there were only 2.5 billion people. Such a large number of people need somewhere to live and work, they must have enough drinking water and food, and human waste products must be disposed of somewhere. The number of contacts between people will increase many times, which means the opportunities for the spread of viruses!

People actively move around the planet, bringing with them their viruses and microbes, which contributes to the spread of epidemics. As a result, pandemics arise - yes, in this merciless way the planet seeks to regulate the population, and the people themselves contribute to this. The denser the population level, the higher the likelihood of epidemics with a negative outcome.

Viruses have always been and always will be, they will mutate and acquire new properties. To protect yourself from epidemics, you need to remember basic preventive measures - less contact, strengthening the immune system, a healthy lifestyle, seeking help if your condition worsens - this will help protect yourself.

Photo - photobank Lori

A person is most susceptible to various colds in the autumn and spring. Viral infectious diseases are a type of disease that is caused by an infection that has penetrated into a weakened body. They can occur in an acute form or in a sluggish form, but treatment must be carried out in both cases so as not to aggravate the situation and to avoid dangerous complications. On average, a person gets sick from colds 2 to 3 times a year, but the disease always develops due to viral DNA.

Types of viruses

Symptoms of pathology can be caused by different types of bacteria, which differ in location, rate of development, and symptoms. Human viruses have a special classification; they are conventionally divided into fast and slow. The second option is very dangerous because the symptoms are very weak and the problem cannot be detected immediately. This gives it time to multiply and strengthen. Among the main types of viruses, the following groups are distinguished:

Orthomyxoviruses- all influenza viruses.
Adenoviruses and Rhinoviruses. They provoke ARVI - an acute respiratory viral infection that affects the respiratory system. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, but can cause complications (bronchitis, pneumonia)
Herpesviruses– herpes viruses, which can for a long time live in the body asymptomatically and are activated immediately after the weakening of the immune system.
Meningitis. It is provoked by a meningococcal infection, the brain mucosa is damaged, and the virus feeds on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Encephalitis– affects the lining of the brain, causing irreversible disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system.
Parvovirus, which is the causative agent of polio. A very dangerous disease that can cause convulsions, inflammation of the spinal cord, and paralysis.
Picornaviruses– pathogens viral hepatitis.
Orthomyxoviruses– cause mumps, measles, parainfluenza.
Rotavirus– cause enteritis, intestinal flu, gastroenteritis.
Rhabdoviruses- causative agents of rabies.
Papoviruses– the cause of human papillomatosis.
Retroviruses- the causative agents of AIDS, HIV develops first, and then AIDS.

List of human viral diseases

Medicine knows a huge number of contagious viruses and infections that can provoke various diseases in the human body. Below are only the main groups of diseases that you are likely to encounter:

One of the largest groups of viral diseases is influenza (A, B, C), different types of colds that cause inflammation in the body, high fever, general weakness and sore throat. Therapy is carried out with the help of general restoratives, antiviral drugs, and, if necessary, antibacterial medications are prescribed.
Complex products help eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of influenza and ARVI, maintain efficiency, but often contain phenylephrine, a substance that increases blood pressure, which gives a feeling of vigor, but can cause side effects. cardiovascular system. Therefore, in some cases, it is better to choose a drug without components of this kind, for example, AntiGrippin from Natur Product, which helps relieve the unpleasant symptoms of influenza and ARVI without causing an increase in blood pressure.

There are contraindications. It is necessary to consult a specialist.
Rubella. A common childhood pathology, less common in adults. Symptoms include damage to the lining of the respiratory tract and skin. eyes, lymph nodes. The virus is transmitted by droplets and is always accompanied by high temperature, skin rashes.
Piggy. A dangerous viral disease affecting the respiratory tract, the salivary glands are severely affected. Rarely found in adult men, the testes are affected by this virus.
Measles– often found in children, the disease affects the skin, respiratory tract, and intestines. Transmitted by airborne droplets, the causative agent is paramyxovirus.
Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis). The pathology affects the respiratory tract, intestines, and then penetrates the blood. Next, motor neurons are damaged, which leads to paralysis. The virus is transmitted by droplets, and sometimes a child can become infected through feces. In some cases, insects act as carriers.
Syphilis. This disease is sexually transmitted and affects the genitals. Then touches the eyes internal organs and joints, heart, liver. Antibacterial agents are used for treatment, but it is very important to determine the presence of pathology immediately, because it may not cause symptoms for a long time.
Typhus. It is rare and is characterized by a rash on the skin, damage to blood vessels, which leads to the formation of blood clots.
Pharyngitis. The disease is caused by a virus that enters the human body along with dust. Cold air, streptococci, and staphylococci can also provoke the development of pathology. The viral illness is accompanied by fever, cough, and sore throat.
Angina– a common viral pathology, which has several subtypes: catarrhal, follicular, lacunar, phlegmonous.
Whooping cough. This viral disease is characterized by damage to the upper respiratory tract, swelling of the larynx is formed, and severe coughing attacks are observed.

The rarest human viral diseases

Most viral pathologies are contagious diseases that are transmitted sexually and by airborne droplets. There are a number of diseases that are extremely rare:

Tularemia. The pathology, in its symptoms, strongly resembles the plague. Infection occurs after Francisella tularensis enters the body - it is an infectious bacillus. As a rule, it gets in with the air or through a mosquito bite. The disease is also transmitted from a sick person.
Cholera. This disease is very rare in modern medical practice. Vibrio cholerae virus, which enters the body through dirty water, contaminated food causes symptoms of pathology. The last outbreak of the disease was recorded in 2010 in Haiti, the disease claimed the lives of more than 4,500 people.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. A very dangerous pathology that is transmitted through the meat of infected animals. The causative agent is considered to be a prion, a special protein that begins to actively destroy body cells after penetration. The insidiousness of the pathology lies in the absence of symptoms, the person begins to develop a personality disorder, develops severe irritation, and dementia. The disease cannot be cured and the person dies within a year.

Symptoms of the virus

Symptoms do not always appear immediately; some types of viral diseases can occur for a long time without obvious signs, which becomes a problem when further treatment. Every infectious disease goes through the following stages:

incubation period;
premonitory;
the height of pathology;
recovery.

The duration of the first stage always depends on the specific type of virus and can last from 2-3 hours to six months. Symptoms will differ depending on the developing disease, but, as a rule, the following manifestations are included in the general symptoms of viral pathologies:

soreness, muscle weakness;
slight chills;
persistent body temperature;
sensitivity of the skin to touch;
cough, sore throat, watery eyes;
dysfunction of some organs;
enlarged lymph nodes.

Temperature due to viral infection

This is one of the body’s main reactions to the penetration of any pathogen. Temperature is defense mechanism, which activates all other immune functions to fight viruses. Most diseases occur with a high body temperature. Viral pathologies that provoke this symptom include:

flu;
ARVI;
tick-borne encephalitis;
childhood diseases: chickenpox, infectious mumps, rubella, measles;
polio;
infectious mononucleosis.

There are often cases of the development of diseases in which the temperature does not rise. The main symptoms are watery discharge with a runny nose and sore throat. The absence of fever is explained by insufficient activity of the virus or the immune system is strong, and therefore does not fully use all possible methods of fighting the infection. If growth has begun, then high rates remain, as a rule, for about 5 days.

Signs

Most viruses provoke the development of acute respiratory pathologies. There is some difficulty in identifying diseases that were caused by bacteria, because the treatment regimen in this case will be very different. There are more than 20 varieties of viruses that cause ARVI, but their main symptoms are similar. Primary signs include the following manifestations:

rhinitis (runny nose), cough with clear mucus;
low temperature (up to 37.5 degrees) or fever;
general weakness, headaches, poor appetite.

How to distinguish a cold from a virus

There is a difference between these two concepts. A cold occurs during prolonged exposure to the cold, severe hypothermia of the body, which leads to a weakened immune system and the appearance of an inflammatory process. This is not the name of the disease, but only the reason for the development of other pathologies. Viral pathology often becomes a consequence of a cold, because the body does not have enough protective forces to resist the pathogen.

Virus diagnostics

When contacting a doctor, he must conduct a visual examination and collect anamnesis. As a rule. viral diseases are accompanied by fever, cough, runny nose, but after 3-4 days the person feels better. Specialists can determine the type of disease based on general symptoms or based on seasonal outbreaks of diseases, for example, influenza epidemics often begin in winter, and acute respiratory viral infections in the fall. Determining the exact type of virus will be required for specific treatment (HIV, syphilis, etc.). For this purpose, virological research is used.

This method in medicine is the “gold standard”, which is carried out in a special laboratory. As a rule, such methods are used during epidemic outbreaks of viral infectious diseases. Immunodiagnostic methods (immunoindication, serodiagnosis) are widely used for diagnosing pathogens. They are realized through various immune reactions:

enzyme immunoassay (ELISA);
radioisotope immunoassay (RIA);
hemagglutination inhibition reaction;
complement fixation reaction;
immunofluorescence reaction.

Treatment of viral diseases

The course of therapy depends on the type of pathogen. For example, if it is necessary to treat ARVI, childhood viral pathologies (mumps, rubella, measles, etc.), then all medications are used to eliminate the symptoms. If you follow bed rest and diet, the body itself copes with the disease. Treatment of viruses is carried out in cases where they cause significant discomfort to a person. Apply for example:

antipyretics if the temperature is above 37.5 degrees;
vasoconstrictor drops are used to relieve nasal swelling;
in rare cases, antibiotics (if a bacterial infection has occurred);
NSAIDs that relieve pain and lower fever, for example, aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen.

During treatment, doctors recommend drinking more fluids to combat intoxication of the body, moderate nutrition, bed rest and room humidity of at least 50% where the patient is. Treatment for influenza is no different, but the doctor must monitor the patient, because this disease can cause serious consequences. One of them is pneumonia, which can lead to pulmonary edema and death.

If such complications begin, treatment must be carried out in a hospital using special medications (Zanamivir, Oseltamivir). When diagnosing the human papillomavirus, therapy consists of keeping the immune system in good shape, surgical removal of warts and condylomas. In cases of severe viral pathologies. For example, HIV requires a course of antiretroviral drugs. It cannot be completely eliminated, but it can be kept under control and prevent the spread of the disease.

If the genital organs are infected with herpes, it is necessary to take special medications; their maximum effectiveness has been confirmed in the first 48 hours. If you use the products later, their medicinal effect is significantly reduced and the course of treatment can last from several weeks to several months. Herpes on the lips needs to be treated with local remedies (ointments, gels), but even without them, the wound heals within a week.

Antiviral drugs

In medicine, there is a certain number of medications in this group that have proven their effectiveness and are used constantly. The entire list of drugs is divided into two types:

Medicines that stimulate human immunity.
Drugs that attack the detected virus are direct-acting drugs.

The first group refers to broad-spectrum drugs, but their use leads to serious complications. One example of such drugs is interferons, and the most popular of them is interferon alpha-2b. It is prescribed for the treatment of chronic forms of Hepatitis B, and was previously prescribed for hepatitis C. Patients had a hard time tolerating such therapy, which led to side effects from the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system. In some cases, pyrogenic properties appear and cause fever.

The second type of PPD medications is more effective and is easier to tolerate by patients. Among the popular medications, the following treatment options are distinguished:

Herpes– acyclovir. Helps overcome the symptoms of the disease, but does not kill it completely.
Flu– influenza neuraminidase inhibitors (Zanamivir, Oseltamivir). Modern influenza strains have developed resistance to previous medications (adamantanes), and they are not effective. Name of drugs: Relenza, Ingavirin, Tamiflu.
Hepatitis. For the treatment of group B viruses, interferons are used together with Ribavirin. For hepatitis C, a new generation of drugs is used - Simeprevir. Its effectiveness reaches 80-91% of sustained virological response.
HIV. It cannot be completely cured; antiretroviral drugs provide a lasting effect, cause remission, and the person cannot infect others. Therapy continues throughout life.

Prevention

Preventive measures may vary slightly depending on the type of virus. For example, to prevent infection with hepatitis or HIV, it is necessary to protect yourself during sexual intercourse. There are two main directions for the prevention of viral diseases:

Specific. It is carried out to develop specific immunity in a person through vaccination. A person is injected with a weakened strain of the virus so that the body develops antibodies to it. This will help protect you from those with measles, flu, polio, and hepatitis (liver disease). Most life-threatening diseases can be prevented by vaccines.
Nonspecific. Strengthening the human immune defense, a healthy lifestyle, physical activity and normal nutrition. A person must follow the rules of hygiene, which will protect him from intestinal infections, and use protection during sexual intercourse to prevent HIV infection.