Viral diseases - a list of common ailments and the most dangerous viruses

Viral diseases affect cells in which there are already violations, what the agent uses. Modern research has shown that this happens only with a strong weakening of immunity, which can no longer adequately combat the threat.

Features of viral infections

After the discovery of bacteria it became clear that there are other causes of the disease. For the first time, viruses began to be talked about at the end of the 19th century, today more than 2 thousand of their varieties have been studied. They also have a common - a viral infection needs living matter, because it has only genetic material. When a virus is inserted into a cell, its genome changes, and it begins to work on a parasite that has penetrated from the outside.

Types of viral diseases

These pathogens are usually distinguished by their genetic characteristics:

Viral diseases can also be classified according to the mechanism of influence on the cell:

How is the virus transmitted?

The spread of the virus infection is carried out by:

  1. Air-drip. Respiratory viral infections are transmitted by drawing in pieces of mucus that are splashed during sneezing.
  2. Parenteral. In this case, the disease comes from mother to child, during medical manipulation, sex.
  3. Through food. Viral diseases come with water or food. Sometimes they are in a sleeping state for a long time, appearing only under external influence.

Why do viral diseases have the nature of epidemics?

Many viruses spread quickly and massively, which triggers the emergence of epidemics. The reasons for this are the following:

  1. Ease of distribution. Many serious viruses and viral diseases are easily transmitted through droplets of saliva, trapped inside with breathing. In this form, the pathogen can maintain activity for a long time, so it is able to find several new carriers.
  2. Reproduction speed. After entering the body, the cells are affected one by one, providing the necessary nutrient medium.
  3. Complexity of elimination. It is not always known how to treat a viral infection, this is due to poor knowledge, the possibility of mutations and difficulties in diagnosing - at the initial stage it is easily confused with other problems.

Symptoms of viral infection

The course of viral diseases can differ depending on their type, but there are common points.

  1. Fever. It is accompanied by a rise in temperature to 38 degrees, without it only light forms of ARVI pass. If the temperature is higher, then this indicates a severe current. It lasts no longer than 2 weeks.
  2. Rash. Viral diseases of the skin are accompanied by these manifestations. They can look like spots, roseola and vesicles. Characteristic for childhood, in adult rashes are less common.
  3. Meningitis. Occurs with enterovirus and influenza , children often face.
  4. Intoxication - loss of appetite, nausea, headache, weakness and retardation. These signs of a viral disease are due to toxins released by the pathogen in the course of activity. The strength of the impact depends on the severity of the illness, the heavier the children, the adults may not notice it.
  5. Diarrhea. It is characteristic for rotaviruses, the stool is watery, does not contain blood.

Human Viral Diseases - List

It is impossible to name the exact number of viruses - they are constantly changing, supplementing an extensive list. Viral diseases, the list of which is presented below, are the most famous.

  1. Flu and cold. Their signs are: weakness, fever, sore throat. Antiviral drugs are used, antibiotics are additionally prescribed for the addition of bacteria.
  2. Rubella. Eye, respiratory tract, cervical lymph nodes and skin fall under the impact. It spreads by air-drop method, accompanied by high temperature and skin rashes.
  3. Piggy. The respiratory tract is affected, in rare cases, testicles are affected in men.
  4. Yellow fever. Harms the liver and blood vessels.
  5. Measles. Danger to children, affects the intestines, the respiratory tract and skin.
  6. Laryngitis . Often occurs on the background of other problems.
  7. Polio. Penetrates into the bloodstream through the intestines and breathing, when the brain suffers paralysis.
  8. Angina. There are several types, characterized by headache, high fever, severe sore throat and chills.
  9. Hepatitis. Any variety causes yellow skin, darkening of the urine and colorlessness of the stool, which indicates the violation of several functions of the body.
  10. Typhus. Rare in the modern world, affects the circulatory system, can lead to thrombosis.
  11. Syphilis. After the lesion of the genital organs, the pathogen enters the joints and eyes, spreading further. Long has no symptoms, therefore periodic examinations are important.
  12. Encephalitis. The brain is damaged, the cure can not be guaranteed, the risk of death is high.

The most dangerous viruses in the world for humans

The list of viruses that represent the greatest danger to our body:

  1. Hantavirus. The causative agent is transmitted from rodents, causes various fevers, mortality in which ranges from 12 to 36%.
  2. Flu. This includes the most dangerous viruses known from the news, different strains can cause a pandemic, a heavy current affects older and younger children.
  3. Marburg. Opened in the second half of the 20th century, is the cause of hemorrhagic fever. It is transmitted from animals and infected people.
  4. Rotavirus . It is the cause of diarrhea, treatment is simple, but in underdeveloped countries, 450,000 children die every year from it.
  5. Ebola. According to data for 2015, mortality is 42%, transmitted by contact with liquids of the infected person. Signs are: a sharp increase in temperature, weakness, pain in the muscles and throat, rashes, diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding possible.
  6. Dengue . Mortality is estimated at 50%, characterized by intoxication, rash, fever, lymph node involvement. Distributed in Asia, Oceania and Africa.
  7. Smallpox. Known for a long time, dangerous only to people. Characterized by a rash, high fever, vomiting and headache. The last case of infection occurred in 1977.
  8. Rabies. It is transferred from warm-blooded animals, it affects the nervous system. After the appearance of signs, the success of treatment is almost impossible.
  9. Lossa. The causative agent is carried by rats, first discovered in 1969 in Nigeria. Affected kidneys, nervous system, begins myocarditis and hemorrhagic syndrome. The treatment is difficult, the fever takes up to 5,000 lives per year.
  10. HIV. Transmitted through contact with liquids of the infected person. Without treatment, there is a chance to live 9-11 years, its complexity lies in the constant mutation of strains killing cells.

Fighting viral diseases

The complexity of the fight lies in the constant change of known pathogens that make the habitual treatment of viral diseases ineffective. This makes it necessary to search for new drugs, but at the present stage of the development of medicine, most measures are developed quickly, before the transition of the epidemic threshold. The following approaches have been adopted:

Antibiotics for viral infection

In the course of the disease, immunity is always depressed, sometimes it needs to be strengthened to kill the pathogen. In some cases, in case of a viral disease, antibiotics are additionally prescribed. It is necessary, when bacterial infection joins, which is killed only in this way. With a pure viral illness, taking these drugs will not bring only worsen the condition.

Prevention of viral diseases

  1. Vaccination is effective against a particular pathogen.
  2. Strengthening immunity - the prevention of viral infections in this way implies hardening, proper nutrition, support with plant extracts.
  3. Precautions - the exclusion of contacts with sick people, the exclusion of unprotected casual sex.