Viral Infection: Symptoms, Signs, and Treatment in Adults. Types of viral diseases, treatment methods

Hantaviruses.
Hantaviruses are a genus of viruses transmitted to humans through contact with rodents or their waste products. Hantaviruses cause various diseases belonging to such groups of diseases as “hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome” (mortality rate on average 12%) and “hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome” (mortality rate up to 36%). The first major outbreak of the disease caused by hantaviruses, known as "Korean Hemorrhagic Fever", occurred during the Korean War (1950-1953). Then more than 3,000 American and Korean soldiers felt the impact of a virus unknown at the time, which caused internal bleeding and impaired kidney function. Interestingly, this particular virus is considered the likely cause of the outbreak in the 16th century, which exterminated the Aztec people.

Influenza virus.
Influenza virus is a virus that causes acute respiratory infections in humans. Currently, there are more than 2 thousand of its variants, classified into three serotypes A, B, C. A group of the virus from serotype A divided into strains (H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, etc.) is the most dangerous for humans and can lead to epidemics and pandemics. Every year in the world from 250 to 500 thousand people die from seasonal flu epidemics (most of them are children under 2 years old and elderly people over 65 years old).

Marburg virus.
The Marburg virus is a dangerous human virus, first described in 1967 during small outbreaks in the German cities of Marburg and Frankfurt. In humans, it causes Marburg hemorrhagic fever (mortality 23-50%), which is transmitted through blood, feces, saliva and vomit. The natural reservoir for this virus is sick people, probably rodents and some species of monkeys. Early symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle pain. In the later, jaundice, pancreatitis, weight loss, delirium and neuropsychiatric symptoms, bleeding, hypovolemic shock, and multiple organ failure, most commonly the liver. Marburg fever is one of the ten deadly animal-borne diseases.

Rotavirus.
The sixth most dangerous human virus is Rotavirus, a group of viruses that are the most common cause of acute diarrhea in infants and young children. It is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. The disease is usually easy to treat, but more than 450,000 children under the age of five die each year worldwide, most of whom live in underdeveloped countries.

Ebola virus.
The Ebola virus is a genus of viruses that causes Ebola haemorrhagic fever. It was first discovered in 1976 during an outbreak in the Ebola River Basin (hence the name of the virus) in Zaire, DR Congo. It is transmitted by direct contact with blood, secretions, other fluids and organs of an infected person. Ebola is characterized by a sudden increase in body temperature, severe general weakness, muscle and headaches, and sore throat. It is often accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired renal and liver function, and in some cases, internal and external bleeding. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, as of 2015, 30,939 people were infected with Ebola, of whom 12,910 (42%) died.

Dengue virus.
Dengue virus is one of the most dangerous viruses for humans, causing dengue fever in severe cases, with a mortality rate of about 50%. The disease is characterized by fever, intoxication, myalgia, arthralgia, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. It is found mainly in the countries of South and Southeast Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Caribbean, where about 50 million people are infected annually. The carriers of the virus are sick people, monkeys, mosquitoes and bats.

Smallpox virus.
The smallpox virus is a complex virus, the causative agent of the highly contagious disease of the same name that affects only humans. This is one of the oldest diseases, the symptoms of which are chills, pain in the sacrum and lower back, a rapid increase in body temperature, dizziness, headache, vomiting. On the second day, a rash appears, which eventually turns into purulent blisters. In the 20th century, this virus claimed the lives of 300-500 million people. Around $ 298 million was spent on the smallpox campaign from 1967 to 1979 (equivalent to $ 1.2 billion in 2010). Fortunately, the last known case of infection was reported on October 26, 1977 in the Somali city of Marka.

Rabies virus.
The rabies virus is a dangerous virus that causes rabies in humans and warm-blooded animals, in which a specific damage to the central nervous system occurs. This disease is transmitted through saliva when bitten by an infected animal. It is accompanied by an increase in temperature to 37.2-37.3, poor sleep, patients become aggressive, violent, hallucinations, delirium, a feeling of fear appear, paralysis of the eye muscles, lower extremities, paralytic respiratory disorders and death soon occur. The first signs of the disease appear late, when destructive processes have already occurred in the brain (edema, hemorrhage, degradation of nerve cells), which makes treatment almost impossible. To date, only three cases of human recovery have been recorded without the use of vaccination, all the rest ended in death.

Lassa virus.
Lassa virus is a deadly virus that causes Lassa fever in humans and primates. The disease was first discovered in 1969 in the Nigerian city of Lassa. It is characterized by a severe course, damage to the respiratory system, kidneys, central nervous system, myocarditis and hemorrhagic syndrome. It occurs mainly in West African countries, especially in Sierra Leone, the Republic of Guinea, Nigeria and Liberia, where the annual incidence ranges from 300,000 to 500,000 cases, of which 5,000 lead to patient death. The natural reservoir of Lassa fever is the multi-nipple rat.

AIDS virus.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the most dangerous human virus, the causative agent of HIV / AIDS, which is transmitted through direct contact of mucous membranes or blood with bodily fluid of the patient. In the course of HIV infection, all new strains (varieties) of the virus are formed in the same person, which are mutants, completely different in reproduction speed, capable of initiating and killing certain types of cells. Without medical intervention, the average life expectancy of a person infected with the immunodeficiency virus is 9-11 years. According to data for 2011, 60 million people in the world fell ill with HIV infection, of which 25 million died, and 35 million continue to live with the virus.

There is an opinion that animals, plants and humans prevail in numbers on the planet Earth. But this is actually not the case. There are countless microorganisms (germs) in the world. And viruses are among the most dangerous. They can cause various diseases in humans and animals. Below is a list of the ten most dangerous viruses for humans.

10. Hantaviruses

Hantaviruses are a genus of viruses transmitted to humans through contact with rodents or their waste products. Hantaviruses cause various diseases belonging to such groups of diseases as “hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome” (mortality rate on average 12%) and “hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome” (mortality rate up to 36%). The first major outbreak of the disease caused by hantaviruses, known as "Korean Hemorrhagic Fever", occurred during the Korean War (1950-1953). Then more than 3,000 American and Korean soldiers felt the effects of a virus unknown at the time, which caused internal bleeding and impaired kidney function. Interestingly, it is this virus that is considered the likely cause of the outbreak in the 16th century, which exterminated the Aztec people.

9. Influenza virus

Influenza virus is a virus that causes acute respiratory infections in humans. Currently, there are more than 2 thousand variants of it, classified into three serotypes A, B, C. A group of the virus from serotype A divided into strains (H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, etc.) is the most dangerous for humans and can lead to epidemics and pandemics. Every year in the world from 250 to 500 thousand people die from seasonal flu epidemics (most of them are children under 2 years old and elderly people over 65 years old).

8. Marburg virus

The Marburg virus is a dangerous human virus, first described in 1967 during small outbreaks in the German cities of Marburg and Frankfurt. In humans, it causes Marburg hemorrhagic fever (mortality 23-50%), which is transmitted through blood, feces, saliva and vomit. The natural reservoir for this virus is sick people, probably rodents and some species of monkeys. Early symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle pain. In the later, jaundice, pancreatitis, weight loss, delirium and neuropsychiatric symptoms, bleeding, hypovolemic shock, and multiple organ failure, most commonly the liver. Marburg fever is one of the ten deadly animal-borne diseases.

7. Rotavirus

The sixth most dangerous human virus is Rotavirus, a group of viruses that are the most common cause of acute diarrhea in infants and young children. It is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. The disease is usually easy to treat, but more than 450,000 children under the age of five die each year worldwide, most of whom live in underdeveloped countries.

6. Ebola virus

The Ebola virus is a genus of viruses that causes Ebola haemorrhagic fever. It was first discovered in 1976 during an outbreak in the Ebola River Basin (hence the name of the virus) in Zaire, DR Congo. It is transmitted by direct contact with blood, secretions, other fluids and organs of an infected person. Ebola is characterized by a sudden increase in body temperature, severe general weakness, muscle and headaches, and sore throat. It is often accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired renal and liver function, and in some cases, internal and external bleeding. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, as of 2015, 30,939 people were infected with Ebola, of whom 12,910 (42%) died.

5. Dengue virus

Dengue virus is one of the most dangerous viruses for humans, causing dengue fever in severe cases, with a mortality rate of about 50%. The disease is characterized by fever, intoxication, myalgia, arthralgia, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. It is found mainly in the countries of South and Southeast Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Caribbean, where about 50 million people are infected annually. The carriers of the virus are sick people, monkeys, mosquitoes and bats.

4. Smallpox virus

The smallpox virus is a complex virus, the causative agent of the highly contagious disease of the same name that affects only humans. This is one of the oldest diseases, the symptoms of which are chills, pain in the sacrum and lower back, a rapid increase in body temperature, dizziness, headache, vomiting. On the second day, a rash appears, which eventually turns into purulent blisters. In the 20th century, this virus claimed the lives of 300-500 million people. Around $ 298 million was spent on the smallpox campaign from 1967 to 1979 (equivalent to $ 1.2 billion in 2010). Fortunately, the last known case of infection was reported on October 26, 1977 in the Somali city of Marka.

3. Rabies virus

The rabies virus is a dangerous virus that causes rabies in humans and warm-blooded animals, in which a specific damage to the central nervous system occurs. This disease is transmitted through saliva when bitten by an infected animal. It is accompanied by an increase in temperature to 37.2-37.3, poor sleep, patients become aggressive, violent, hallucinations, delirium, a feeling of fear appear, paralysis of the eye muscles, lower extremities, paralytic respiratory disorders and death soon occur. The first signs of the disease appear late, when destructive processes have already occurred in the brain (edema, hemorrhage, degradation of nerve cells), which makes treatment almost impossible. To date, only three cases of human recovery have been recorded without the use of vaccination, all the rest ended in death.

2. Lassa virus

Lassa virus is a deadly virus that causes Lassa fever in humans and primates. The disease was first discovered in 1969 in the Nigerian city of Lassa. It is characterized by a severe course, damage to the respiratory system, kidneys, central nervous system, myocarditis and hemorrhagic syndrome. It occurs mainly in West African countries, especially in Sierra Leone, the Republic of Guinea, Nigeria and Liberia, where the annual incidence ranges from 300,000 to 500,000 cases, of which 5,000 lead to patient death. The natural reservoir of Lassa fever is the multi-nipple rat.

1. AIDS virus

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the most dangerous human virus, the causative agent of HIV / AIDS, which is transmitted through direct contact of mucous membranes or blood with bodily fluid of the patient. In the course of HIV infection, all new strains (varieties) of the virus are formed in the same person, which are mutants, completely different in reproduction speed, capable of initiating and killing certain types of cells. Without medical intervention, the average life expectancy of a person infected with the immunodeficiency virus is 9-11 years. According to data for 2011, 60 million people in the world fell ill with HIV infection, of which 25 million died, and 35 million continue to live with the virus.

Viruses are pathogens that can multiply in the human body, causing various diseases.

Varieties of viral diseases

The most dangerous are parenteral viral infections that affect the liver and other internal organs.

One of these diseases is parenteral hepatitis, caused by the penetration of viruses into the body. Infection can occur in several ways:

• Household (general toothbrushes, towels, razors)
• Insufficient sterilization of syringes and needles
• Sexually

Parenteral hepatitis symptoms

When infected, patients complain of general weakness, nausea and vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, sometimes the disease is accompanied by abdominal pain, and there may be a change in the color of urine and feces. A feature of this disease is that it occurs 4 times more often than viral hepatitis B, so it is so important to know the main symptoms and contact a medical institution in time for timely treatment. Human viral diseases can be quite dangerous, therefore, it is necessary to take precautions, pay special attention to the prevention of such diseases, and take the necessary tests for viral infections on time.

Prevention of parenteral viral infections

The main preventive method of such diseases is vaccination, which is primarily subject to:

The disease is most often observed in people who lead an irregular lifestyle, promiscuous sex life, often occurs in drug addicts.

List of major types of viral diseases

1. The voluminous list of various viral diseases includes all types of influenza (A, B and C), all types of colds, which are characterized by an inflammatory process in the body, are accompanied by high fever, general weakness, and a sore throat. Treatment of such diseases is carried out with antiviral drugs, fortifying agents, sometimes it is recommended to take antibiotics.
2. Rubella is not the last in the table of various types of viruses and viral diseases. It is more common in childhood, less often in adults. It is characterized by damage to the respiratory tract, cervical lymph nodes, eyes and skin. The causative agent of the disease is the rubella virus. Such viruses spread by droplets, accompanied by skin rashes, high fever.
3. Mumps is a serious viral disease characterized by damage to the respiratory tract, with the salivary glands being particularly affected. In rare cases, the disease occurs in adult men who have a testicular infection with the virus.
4. Measles - more often children suffer from the disease, the disease is characterized by damage to the respiratory tract, as well as the skin and intestines. The disease spreads, like many others, by airborne droplets, the causative agent is paramyxovirus.
5. Less common is yellow fever, which is carried by ticks and mosquitoes. The disease is characterized by the lining of the blood vessels and liver.
6. Poliomyelitis - the second name of the disease is infantile paralysis. The causative agent is the poliomyelitis virus, three types of strains are known. The disease first affects the respiratory tract and intestines, then is transferred to the blood. If the motor neurons of the brain are damaged, paralysis occurs. It is spread by droplets, sometimes through feces (for example, through food or water contaminated with the patient's excrement, through contaminated objects). Also, insects that flew from infected feces to food can be carriers.
7. Syphilis - the disease is sexually transmitted, characterized by damage to the genitals, then the eyes, joints and internal organs, including the heart and liver, are affected. For treatment, antibacterial drugs are used. The disease can be asymptomatic for a long time, so it is important to regularly be examined by a doctor and take the necessary tests.
8. Typhus - today it is quite rare, is characterized by damage to the blood vessels, which can cause blood clots, as well as a rash on the skin. To prevent the disease, vaccination is carried out with killed bacteria and living cells. For treatment, antibacterial drugs (tetracycline, chloramphenicol) are prescribed, depending on the number of carriers. Lice are carriers of epidemic typhus, and endemic typhus is transmitted from rat fleas.

The treatment of such diseases is complex, including vaccination, as well as fortifying, antiviral and antibacterial drugs. It is possible to diagnose such diseases only on the basis of tests. It is important to know that self-medication can be dangerous for the body, therefore, if characteristic symptoms (rash, fever) appear, you should seek the advice of your doctor.

Pharyngitis - pathogens are bacteria that can enter the body with dust, which is constantly inhaled by a person. In addition, viral infections of the respiratory tract, including pharyngitis, cause cold air, as well as infections (staphylococci, streptococci). The disease is accompanied by severe cough, sore throat and fever. For the treatment of pharyngitis, inhalations are prescribed on an oil and alkaline basis, as well as rinsing with herbs.

Laryngitis is often a manifestation of other respiratory viral diseases (scarlet fever, flu, whooping cough). Cold air, smoking, lack of proper diet can become the cause of infection. Usually, the disease begins with a runny nose and a feeling of discomfort in the throat, a strong cough, fever, and swelling of the throat gradually join. For treatment, various inhalations, rinses, and cough preparations are prescribed.

Angina is a fairly common viral disease, there are several types:

• Follicular
• Catarrhal
• Lacunar
• Phlegmonous

The disease is accompanied by a sharp sore throat, severe headache, chills caused by high fever (up to 39 degrees). Treatment is carried out by inhalation and rinsing, a diet, warm drinks in large quantities, compresses are recommended. In addition, the doctor prescribes antibacterial drugs that effectively fight viruses.

Whooping cough - affects the upper respiratory tract, causes severe coughing attacks and swelling of the larynx, which can lead to suffocation if the disease is not treated in time. It is transmitted by droplets, killed bacteria are used for vaccination.

It is important to understand that the fight against viral diseases is aimed at the need to get tested on time, especially for people who are at risk. Not everyone knows what viral diseases are. In addition to the well-known, there are many rare human viral diseases.

The rarest human viral diseases

There is a list of rare human viral diseases that are quite rare in modern medical practice.

Table of rare viruses and viral diseases

Name of the disease	Characteristic
Tularemia	the symptoms are similar to the plague, the causative agent is the Francisella tularensis bacillus, which can enter the human body through the air, through contact with patients with this disease, with ticks and mosquitoes.
Cholera	in modern medicine it is quite rare, the causative agent is Vibrio cholerae, can be transmitted through feces, food and contaminated water. The last epidemic was recorded in 2010, when more than three thousand people died. It is worth noting that with proper treatment, the mortality rate is quite low. Without timely treatment, death occurs in 85 cases out of 100.
Creutzfelt-Jakob disease	One of the most dangerous phenomena, which is in the first place in the table of viral diseases. It is transmitted to humans from animals that he eats. The causative agent is prions - special proteins that cause cell destruction. The insidiousness of the disease is that a person may not know about the infection for a long time. It is characterized by personality disorder, severe irritability, brain activity is gradually disrupted, dementia develops. A person dies within a year. It is an incurable disease, although very rare (over 15 years, there have been 100 cases of infection).

Large-scale epidemics of various diseases have been accompanying humanity for as long as it can remember. In history, there is evidence of massive plague epidemics ("black death", as it was called) in the period from the 15th to the 18th century, when London alone was missing 400 thousand inhabitants. Plague was brought by ordinary house rats, of which there were many at that time. In the 19th and 20th centuries, cholera and "Spanish flu" raged, which wiped out most of the population of large cities, including in Russia. At the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century, HIV and many other most dangerous infections appeared - bird flu, swine, Ebola ... Each era has its own infections that are dangerous. And they arise for a reason, everything in this world has its own biological meaning. Let's talk with 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 things - the weak die, the strong survive and multiply, while nature knows no pity. Natural selection is at work. In which man interferes more and more by the development of science and technology. For example, after the most powerful plague epidemics, the surviving people began to live 20 years more than before - but for this it was paid 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 have invented antibiotics, their immunity has become much better, and their diet has become more varied. But today other infections also began to appear - we still do not know how to treat viruses, and they occupy a vacant niche. And people themselves also add infections to the piggy bank, developing the most terrible thing - biological weapons, mainly viruses of deadly or very dangerous mass infections, including the notorious Ebola fever today.

Viruses and their role

Viruses are by far the most common cause of various epidemics and pandemics, although viruses are one of the oldest particles of life. Many scientists call viruses basic evolution, since they are capable of causing mutations in living organisms, leading to the acquisition of new properties by them. But viruses can kill a person, especially if used as a weapon. Viruses penetrate everywhere, they were 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 single-celled 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 to say with accuracy where the viruses came from is also impossible. According to one of the theories, viruses were one of the first 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 of cells of larger organisms, according to the third theory, they were taken from the simplest microorganisms by 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 unambiguously harmful particles and time bombs. Many people 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 borrowing genes from it with their transfer to another living organism upon contact. And in this case, in the future, these new genes, new organisms will adapt to their new needs. On the account of viruses, 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. So, for example, having arisen in dinosaurs, hemoglobin was transmitted by viruses to plants and insects and animals, then to humans. The functions of hemoglobin are different for everyone - but in the initial structure it is very similar to one another.

Dangerous viruses

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

The main ones were the countries of a humid tropical climate - the region of the mouth of the Niger Rhea in Africa, Hindustan and Southeast Asia. In addition to the climate, this is due to the extremely low level of sanitary culture, the 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 rash - we have our own hot spots in terms of dangerous epidemics - this is the Far East region, where dangerous viral infections involving insect vectors are widespread and the southern regions, where the risks are also high various fevers. The study of the map of dangerous infections continues.

Hot issues of epidemics?

A natural question arises - if there are so many deadly viruses around us, why do epidemics and pandemics arise only from time to time and roll 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 human immunity has not yet had time to develop antibodies. Or the emergence of an infection in a society that has been isolated for a long time, and then it spreads to other groups of people. This opinion is confirmed by the fact that the colonists arriving from Europe became the sources of massive epidemics of dangerous diseases among the indigenous population of the newly discovered territories, not protected by immunity from unfamiliar viruses and microbes. The features of the immunity of the Negroid race, Indians and Asians also differ from the Caucasians - this is the reason for the outbreaks of epidemics.

Another constant cause of the periodic occurrence of fatal epidemics among people is the influence of nature - physical factors and climate. If we recall the history of mass pandemics of the "black death" in medieval Europe, from which about 60 million people died, then it was preceded by a number of global cataclysms - the eruption of Mount Etna in 1333 led to warm and damp weather, and in a few years about this Germany and France suffered from rains and floods that led to crop failures, pestilence and insect infestations. All this caused hunger and the breeding of hordes of rodents. Thus, especially favorable conditions were created for the emergence of the plague.

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

And people themselves are actively creating a threat of fatal infections and epidemics. The idea of ​​using dangerous viruses and microbes to suppress opponents in wars arose precisely because this tool 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 carry out such developments under the seal of secrecy and scientific research. And it's not for nothing that various disaster films periodically appear on the screens - there is some common sense in them! These fears are not groundless - samples of the smallpox virus, which in the natural environment is considered destroyed, is available in laboratories in Russia and the United States, but there is no immunity from it, most of the population has lost it, despite the presence of a vaccine against it. And the vaccination against smallpox itself is very difficult to tolerate. And the same with the sensational Ebola virus - it was also developed as a variant of biological weapons, and those who studied it - were simultaneously developing a vaccine, and more than one year. Who knows why exactly now and where did the latest epidemic come 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 the hype in the media - hence such a pathological interest in Ebola. Therefore, let's dwell on it in a little more detail and find out something.

Ebola can be contracted by people of any race and gender, and the virus is spread from person to person. But the first person to get sick had to get the virus from animals or from the environment. Africa does not have a high standard of living - everything that moves, including small rodents, eats there. 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 SARS!

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 loved ones are actively caring for them and are in close contact. And the corpses are not burned - they are taken away by wild animals, which people actively eat! In addition, it is their tradition to kiss and hug the deceased, who are the most infectious at the time of death. And given the hard physical labor and the presence of minor injuries to the hands and feet, such close contact leads to infection. Of the Europeans, it was mainly those people who were either a doctor or a missionary in Africa that became infected - that is, they were in close contact and looked after the sick - they could get both the blood and vomit of the sick. If, theoretically, an Ebola patient enters our country and passes 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 death rate from Ebola is about 50%, that is, half of the patients recover, the weakened and most exhausted die.

Is Ebola dangerous for Russia? If these are imported cases from African countries, the virus does not survive in our harsh conditions - 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). Such a person is easy to distinguish from the crowd, you should not hug and kiss with him, then Ebola will not threaten you! Plus, let's hope that a vaccine against this dangerous infection will soon be received.

Flu - great and terrible

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

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

Scientists see the reason for such a frequent occurrence of influenza epidemics in the changing demographic situation. According to the UN forecast, by the middle of the century the population of the Earth may reach 9.5 billion people, and 11 billion by the end of the century. This is a huge figure - 4 billion more than today. And even in the middle of the last century, there were only 2.5 billion of us. Such a large number of people need to live and work somewhere, they should have enough drinking water and food, human waste products should be removed somewhere. The number of contacts between people will grow many times over, and hence the opportunities for the spread of viruses!

People actively move around the planet, bringing their viruses and microbes with them, which contributes to the spread of epidemics. As a result, pandemics arise - yes, in such a merciless way the planet seeks to regulate the population, and 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 the elementary preventive measures - fewer contacts, strengthening the immune system, a healthy lifestyle, seeking help when the condition worsens - this will help protect yourself.

Photo - photo bank 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 wilt in an acute form or sluggish, but treatment must be carried out in both cases, so as not to aggravate the situation, to avoid dangerous complications. On average, a person suffers from 2 to 3 times a year with colds, but the development of the disease always gets due to viral DNA.

Types of viruses

Different types of bacteria can cause symptoms of pathology, which differ in the place of localization, the rate of development, and signs. Human viruses have a special classification, conventionally they are divided into fast and slow. The second option is very dangerous because the symptoms are very weak and it is not possible to immediately detect the problem. This gives her time to multiply, to strengthen. Among the main types of viruses, the following groups are distinguished:

1. Orthomyxoviruses- all influenza viruses.
2. Adenoviruses and Rhinoviruses. They provoke ARVI - an acute respiratory viral infection that affects the respiratory system. Symptoms are very similar to those of the flu and can cause complications (bronchitis, pneumonia)
3. Herpesviruses- Herpes viruses, which can live asymptomatically in the body for a long time, are activated immediately after weakening of the immune system.
4. Meningitis. It is provoked by a meningococcal infection, the mucous membrane of the brain is damaged, the virus feeds on cerebrospinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid).
5. Encephalitis- affects the lining of the brain, provokes irreversible disturbances in the work of the central nervous system.
6. Parvovirus, which is the causative agent of poliomyelitis. A very dangerous disease that can cause convulsions, spinal cord inflammation, paralysis.
7. Picornaviruses- causative agents of viral hepatitis.
8. Orthomyxoviruses- cause mumps, measles, parainfluenza.
9. Rotavirus- cause enteritis, intestinal flu, gastroenteritis.
10. Rhabdoviruses- pathogens of rabies.
11. Papoviruses- the cause of human papillomatosis.
12. Retroviruses- AIDS pathogens, first HIV develops, and then AIDS.

List of human viral diseases

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

1. One of the most voluminous groups of viral diseases - flu (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 restorative agents, antiviral drugs, if necessary, antibacterial medicines are prescribed.

   Complex remedies help eliminate unpleasant symptoms of influenza and SARS, maintain efficiency, but often contain phenylephrine, a substance that increases blood pressure, which gives a feeling of vigor, but can cause side effects from the 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 to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of influenza and SARS without provoking an increase in pressure.

   There are contraindications. It is necessary to consult a specialist.

2. Rubella. A common childhood pathology, less common in adults. Symptoms include damage to the membranes of the respiratory tract, skin. eyes, lymph nodes. The virus is transmitted by droplets, always accompanied by high fever, skin rashes.
3. Piggy. A dangerous viral disease affecting the respiratory tract, the salivary glands are severely affected. Rarely in adult males, testes have been affected by this virus.
4. Measles- often found in children, the disease affects the skin, respiratory tract, intestines. It is transmitted by airborne droplets, the causative agent is paramyxovirus.
5. Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis). Pathology affects the respiratory tract, intestines, then enters the bloodstream. Further, motor neurons are damaged, which leads to paralysis. The virus is transmitted by droplets, sometimes a child can become infected through stool. In some cases, insects are the vectors.
6. Syphilis. This disease is sexually transmitted, it affects the genitals. Then it affects 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.
7. Typhus. It is rare, characterized by a rash on the skin, damage to the blood vessels, which leads to the formation of blood clots.
8. Pharyngitis. The disease provokes a virus that enters the human body along with dust. Cold air, streptococci, staphylococci can also provoke the development of pathology. A viral illness is accompanied by fever, cough, sore throat.
9. Angina- a common viral pathology, which has several subspecies: catarrhal, follicular, lacunar, phlegmonous.
10. Whooping cough... This viral disease is characterized by damage to the upper respiratory tract, laryngeal edema is formed, and severe coughing fits are observed.

The rarest human viral diseases

Most viral pathologies are infectious diseases that are sexually transmitted, airborne. There are a number of diseases that are extremely rare:

1. Tularemia. Pathology in its symptoms strongly resembles the plague. Infection occurs after penetration into the body of Francisella tularensis - this is an infectious bacillus. As a rule, it gets in with the air or when bitten by a mosquito. The disease is transmitted from a sick person.
2. 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 pathology was recorded in 2010 in Haiti, the disease claimed the lives of more than 4500 people.
3. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. A very dangerous pathology that is transmitted through the meat of infected animals. The causative agent is prion - a special protein that begins to actively destroy the cells of the body after penetration. The insidiousness of pathology lies in the absence of symptoms, a person begins to have a personality disorder, severe irritation, dementia appears. It is impossible to cure the disease and the person dies within a year.

Symptoms of the virus

Symptoms do not always appear immediately, some types of viral diseases can proceed for a long time without obvious signs, which becomes a problem with further treatment. Each 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 attributed to 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;
• swollen lymph nodes.

Temperature with a viral infection

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

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

Often there are cases of development of diseases for which the temperature does not rise. The main symptoms are watery compartments with a runny nose, sore throat. The lack of temperature is explained by the insufficient activity of the virus or the immune system is strong, therefore, it does not fully use all possible methods of fighting the infection. If the growth has begun, then high rates are maintained, as a rule, for about 5 days.

Signs

Most viruses provoke the development of acute respiratory pathologies. There are some difficulties in identifying diseases that were caused by bacteria, because the treatment regimen in this case will be very different. There are more than 20 types of viruses that cause SARS, but their main symptoms are similar. The 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 tell a cold from a virus

There is a difference between the two. A cold occurs during prolonged exposure to the cold, severe hypothermia of the body, which leads to a weakening of immunity 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 defenses to resist the pathogen.

Virus diagnostics

When contacting a doctor, he should conduct a visual examination and take an anamnesis. Usually. viral diseases are accompanied by fever, cough, runny nose, but after 3-4 days a person feels an improvement. Specialists can determine the type of disease based on general symptoms or based on seasonal outbreaks of diseases, for example, flu epidemics often begin in winter, and SARS in autumn. Determining the exact type of virus will be required for specific treatment (HIV, syphilis, etc.). For this, a virological study 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. Methods of immunodiagnostics (immunoindication, serodiagnostics) have found widespread use for diagnosing pathogens. They are realized through a variety of immune responses:

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

Treatment of viral diseases

The course of therapy is, depending on the type of pathogens. For example, if it is necessary to treat ARVI, childhood viral pathologies (mumps, rubella, measles, etc.), then all medicines are used to eliminate symptoms. Subject to bed rest, the 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 edema;
• in rare cases, antibiotics (if a bacterial infection has joined);
• NSAIDs that relieve pain and lower fever, such as aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen.

During treatment, doctors recommend drinking more fluids in order to fight intoxication of the body, moderate nutrition, bed rest and humidity in the room of at least 50% where the patient is. Therapy for influenza is no different, but the doctor must be sure to 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 have begun, then treatment must necessarily be carried out in a hospital with the use of special medications (Zanamivir, Oseltamivir). When the human papillomavirus is digested, the therapy consists in maintaining immunity in good shape, surgical removal of warts, and genital warts. In cases of severe viral pathologies. For example, HIV, a course of antiretroviral drugs is needed. It cannot be completely eliminated, but you can keep it under control and prevent the spread of the disease.

In case of infection with herpes of the genitals, it is necessary to take special drugs, their maximum effectiveness is confirmed in the first 48 hours. If you use the funds later, their medicinal effect is significantly reduced and the course of treatment can last from several weeks to several months. Herpes on the lips should 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 medicines of this group, which have proven their effectiveness and are used constantly. The entire list of drugs is conventionally divided into two types:

1. Medicines that stimulate human immunity.
2. The 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, previously it was prescribed for hepatitis C. Patients could hardly tolerate such therapy, which led to side effects from the central nervous system, cardiovascular system. In some cases, pyrogenic properties are manifested - they cause fever.

The second type of drugs PPD is more effective, easier to tolerate by patients. Among the drugs in demand, the following treatment options are distinguished:

1. Herpes- acyclovir. It helps to overcome the symptoms of the disease, but does not completely kill it.
2. Flu- influenza neuraminidase inhibitors (Zanamivir, Oseltamivir). To the previous drugs (adamantanes), modern strains of influenza have developed resistance, and they are not effective. Name of drugs: Relenza, Ingavirin, Tamiflu.
3. 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 a persistent virological response.
4. HIV... It cannot be completely cured, antiretroviral drugs provide a lasting effect, cause remission, and a person cannot infect others. The therapy is lifelong.

Prophylaxis

Preventive measures may differ slightly depending on the type of virus. For example, to prevent infection with hepatitis or HIV, you need to protect yourself during sexual intercourse. There are two main areas of prevention of viral diseases:

1. Specific... It is carried out to develop specific immunity in humans 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 people with measles, flu, polio, hepatitis (liver disease). Most life-threatening diseases can be prevented with vaccines.
2. Nonspecific... Strengthening human immune defenses, healthy lifestyle, physical activity and normal nutrition. A person must follow the rules of hygiene, which will protect him from intestinal infections, protect himself during sexual intercourse in order to prevent HIV infection.

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