Viruses discovered not long ago by our science. This happened in the late nineteenth century and only in the mid-twentieth century that one of them was first visualized. An essential feature revealed by microscopy was that viruses are acellular organisms (which do not have cells). Diseases caused by viruses develop in different ways from illnesses caused by bacteria.  Because the virus is a mandatory cellular parasite, it is only within the cells of other living things that this organism can reproduce.

Check out some diseases caused by viruses, transmission, symptoms, treatment, prevention, and other information.

Flu and the common cold

Although caused by different viruses, their symptoms are similar: runny nose, nasal obstruction, cough, and sneezing; Fever usually only appears in cases of flu.

Airborne droplets transmit both diseases. Only rest, proper nutrition, ingestion of a large number of fluids, and, if necessary, antipyretics and decongestants recommended.  If symptoms persist, for more than one week, you should consult a doctor.

Measles, chickenpox, rubella, and mumps

These diseases are also transmitted by saliva, cough droplets, for example, usually attacking children.

The patient should be in bed, in isolation, and given proper nutrition. It should also be under medical advice to be promptly treated in case of bacterial infections. Rubella is dangerous when contracted by pregnant women, as the virus can cause abnormalities in the embryo (cataract, deafness, and heart disease, among others).

Poliomyelitis

Although in most people, this virus only causes fever, malaise, in some individuals, it can attack the nervous system, causing paralysis. Once the disease installed in the body, there is no specific procedure to cure it, but only a physical therapy treatment in cases where paralysis occurs, aiming to improve the muscular condition. Therefore, to prevent such disease, parents need to vaccinate their children at the time recommended by the doctor.

Yellow Fever

It is caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, causing fever, vomiting, and liver damage. Prevention is done through mosquito control and vaccination.

Anger or hydrophilia

This disease, often fatal, attacks the nervous system. Domestic animals transmit it, especially the dog, so it is mandatory to vaccinate and collect the animals loose in the street.

When any animal bites a person, they should wash the wound site several times with soap and water and apply a disinfectant.

If it is suspected that the animal is angry, urgently seek the nearest hospital for rabies serum and vaccine. The owner should also be required to present the animal’s vaccination certificate.

Hepatitis Virus

It is an inflammation of the liver that can also be caused by other parasites or chemicals.  Transmission occurs through contaminated water and food, especially when there is a lack of adequate sanitation facilities, contaminated blood transfusions, poorly sterilized syringes, and injection needles. The evolution is usually benign, but the presence of the doctor is necessary, and the patient should be isolated, at rest, with proper nutrition.

Dengue

It transmitted by the female mosquito Aedes aegypti. The main symptoms are a high fever for three days, body and eye pain, tiredness and lack of appetite, and rashes similar to measles.  Dengue has no specific treatment. The patient should rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take pain and fever medicines (which do not contain Acetyl Salicylic Acid). Prevention is the same for yellow fever.

Anyone who has had dengue, even if asymptomatically, or has chronic diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus, is subject to contracting hemorrhagic dengue. It is caused by another virus and begins as dengue, but after that, the fever phase is over, the symptoms get worse, blood pressure drops, bleeding in the skin, intestines, and gums, the liver becomes bigger. If there is no medical care, the disease can lead to death in 10% of cases.

AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is caused by the HIV or human immunodeficiency virus, which attacks cells of the immune system, and responsible for recognizing and fighting bacteria, viruses, etc. that invade the body.

The primary cell attacked is the T4 lymphocyte. Due to a deficiency in the immune system, people living with AIDS are subject to opportunistic germ infections, which do not cause problems to people with normal health.

Also, they are more likely to develop some rare cancers like Kaposi’s sarcoma. These infections end up weakening the patient’s health and even leading to death. There is no cure or vaccine for AIDS yet. Not all people who contract HIV develop the disease. It may appear asymptomatic.

However, the asymptomatic carrier may transmit the disease to others through contact with blood, semen, or vaginal secretions. It occurs through sexual intercourse, receiving contaminated blood, using contaminated syringes or needles, mother to child during uterine life or delivery, or organ transplantation.

To prevent contagion, use a condom, do not use unsterile syringes or needles, and if you need blood or plasma factors, make sure it comes from blood banks that are tested for AIDS. The risk group includes homosexuals, bisexuals, injecting drug users, and people who need blood transfusions or plasma factors such as hemophiliacs.