Viral Infection Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Viral infection is an infectious disease caused by the entry of a virus into the human body. Based on the location affected by the infection, there are several types of viral infections, namely:
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Respiratory infection
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Gastrointestinal infections
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Brain and nerve infection
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Skin infection
Symptom
Viral infections show different symptoms, depending on the organs affected and the type of virus causing it. Generally, there will be symptoms of fever. The condition of fever due to a viral infection is usually in the form of a high fever that is quite stubborn even though it has been treated with fever reducers.
In addition, the symptoms of a viral infection often appear suddenly and last 1–2 weeks. Other symptoms such as sore throat, coughing, nausea, diarrhea, skin disorders, or pain in various parts of the body are other symptoms that usually follow the symptoms of fever and target the organs where the virus attack occurs.
Reason
As the name implies, viral infections are related to viruses. Viruses are very small microorganisms, smaller than bacteria and fungi. Viruses must live inside living cells to survive. If it infects humans, components in the virus, namely DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA ( ribonucleic acid ), will enter and multiply in human body cells and cause disease.
Respiratory infections are generally caused by rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza. Gastrointestinal infections are often caused by rotavirus and norovirus. Meanwhile, infections in the liver due to viruses are usually caused by hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E viruses.
Nerve infections can be caused by the poliovirus, Japanese encephalitis virus, or rabies. Meanwhile, skin infections can be caused by the herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, rubella virus, and poxvirus. A viral infection that affects the overall immune system is caused by the HIV virus.
Viral infections can generally be transmitted from one person to another, can be through the air, splashes of saliva, skin contact, contact with body fluids, and so on.
Diagnosis
As an initial check for a viral infection, the doctor will conduct interviews and physical examinations. In respiratory and digestive tract infections, doctors may not need additional examinations to determine disease.
If the infection occurs in the skin, examination of the skin smear or scraping under a microscope is sometimes done to determine the type of disease that occurs. Certain types of viral infections also need to be known for certain through testing for antibodies with laboratory tests, for example rubella, HIV, and herpes simplex infections.
Treatment
Treatment for viral infections also varies, depending on the type of viral infection that occurs. In respiratory and digestive tract infections, usually, viral infections will heal by themselves within 1-2 weeks if the immune system is good. Treatment is given only to reduce the symptoms that occur, not to eliminate the virus.
In skin infections such as herpes simplex, varicella zoster, and herpes zoster, antiviral drugs (cyclovir, ganciclovir, famciclovir, and the like) are needed to stop the virus from replicating in the body.
One of the viral infections that cannot be cured completely is HIV infection. The disease is treated with anti-retroviral therapy. Although it has not been completely cured, HIV-infected patients who are undergoing proper treatment will be able to suppress as low as possible the amount of virus in their bodies. That way they can function normally.
Prevention
To reduce the risk of getting a viral infection, it is recommended that you maintain your immune system in various ways, such as:
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Get enough sleep at night around 6-8 hours every day
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Eat foods high in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals
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Do good physical exercise activities about 3-5 times a week
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Avoiding risky behavior such as free sex, using drugs, and others