Bacterial Infections vs Viral Infections: Know the Differences
October 1, 2019
Bacterial Infections | Bacterial Diseases, Symptoms,Types and Treatment
October 1, 2019
Viral Infections | Viral Diseases, Symptoms, Types and Treatment
What is ‘infection’.
When a foreign body or organism enters our body and causes harm, they result in an infection or a disease. This foreign organism uses our body’s healthy cells to colonize, sustain and reproduce itself. These infection causing organisms are known as pathogens and examples include viruses, bacteria, prions and fungi. Pathogens can adapt to our body’s conditions easily and multiply quickly. Bacteria and Virus are two such ‘foreign bodies’ that can lead to infection and diseases in humans.
Read further about viral infection or viral diseases.
What is a Virus and Viral Infection?
Almost every ecosystem on earth has viruses. They are the most plentiful biological system on this planet. Infection that is caused by a virus in the body is a viral infection. Different viruses can infect and cause a viral infection in nearly any type of body part or tissue, from the skin to the brain, depending on the virus and your state of health. Common cold, flu and warts are some well-known infectious diseases caused by viruses. On the other hand, severe ailments like smallpox, Ebola and even HIV/AIDS can also result from viruses. Virus attacks normal living cells and use those cells to reproduce other viruses, and ultimate result in a viral infection.
What are the Symptoms of a Viral Infection?
A viral infection can lead to a variety of symptoms, some common and some rare. Some of the symptoms of a viral infection are:
- High fever.
- Headache.
- Runny nose.
- The chills.
- Coughing.
- Tiredness or fatigue.
- Sore throat.
- Diarrhea.
- Abdominal pain.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Skin rash.
- Muscle ache.
- Neck stiffness.
- Loss of sensation.
- Seizures.
- Paralysis of the limbs.
- Drowsiness.
- Confusion.
- Weakened bladder.
- Damaged bowel function.
Are Virus Infections Contagious?
Viral infections including flu, colds, laryngitis, croup, bronchitis (chest colds) and most sore throats are more contagious than bacterial infection, hence we need to be very alert for the signs and symptoms of virus infections in people around us, and be mindful of our own hygienic practices as well so that we don’t contact a virus infection easily.
What are the Various Types of Viral Infections?
Virus infections can be categorized on the basis of the body part they affect. On the basis of that, a virus infection can be classified as under:
- Viral infections affecting the lungs: Respiratory infection is the most common type of virus-led infection. It affects the upper airways, throat and lungs. Common cold, sore throat, sinusitis, influenza and pneumonia are some of the most common respiratory infections caused by a viral infection. People suffering from heart or lung disorder, infants and older people are particularly susceptible to a respiratory infection that’s caused by virus.
- Viral infections affecting the Liver: Catching Hepatitis is a distinct possibility if there is virus present in the liver.
- Viral infections affecting the Gastrointestinal tract: Rotavirus and Norovirus, which are viruses of the gastrointestinal tract, can cause gastroenteritis.
- Viral infections affecting the Skin: Skin infections like warts and blemishes can be caused by viruses in the skin. Other viruses like chickenpox can cause infections like skin rashes.
What are the Diseases Caused by Viral Infection?
Some of the diseases caused by a virus led infection include:
- Cold.
- Chickenpox.
- Measles.
- Influenza.
- Dengue.
- Zika virus infection
- Hepatitis C infection.
- H1N1 swine flu.
- Shingles.
- Herpes.
- Polio.
- Rabies.
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
- Rubella
- Meningitis and encephalitis.
- Cold sores.
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection.
- Warts and skin infections.
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection & AIDS.
- Ebola.
- SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
- Epstein-Barr Virus.
- Some types of Cancer.
How are Viral Infections Treated?
Viral infections cannot be treated by antibiotics. Treatment of a viral infection happens simultaneously while the infection is running its course. Some viral infections can be treated with antivirals, while vaccines might be able to prevent you from getting numerous viral diseases. Some viral diseases such as HIV/AIDS, influenza and herpes simplex have antiviral medications: However, their usage have been related largely with the development of drug-resistant microbes, which means that they eventually become immune to the medications and continue to grow.
How to Prevent Viral Infections (or Viral Diseases)?
Some ways one can keep viral infections (Viral Diseases) at bay are:
- Avoiding direct contact with handkerchiefs, napkins, tissues or similar items used by others.
- Practicing safe sex.
- Getting vaccinated.
- Maintaining good hygiene always.
- Not share eating utensils, glasses or dishes.
- Protecting one’s self against bug bites.
- Staying indoors during the infection period.
- Washing and bandaging (covering) all cuts.
- Cooking food hygienically and thoroughly.
- Not picking or scratching healing blemishes or wounds, or squeeze pimples.
Viral Infections Tests
House of Diagnostics offers affordable and quick Viral infection tests to ensure your preparedness against ailments and general well-being of your health. You can book a test for yourself – or someone else who needs help – in just a few clicks here.
Tests for Viral Infections Available At House of Diagnostics (HOD).
Tags:
list of bacterial diseases, viral diseases, viral infection,viral diseases list, viral disease, viral infections, viral infections treatment, viral infections symptoms, viral fever symptoms, viral infections types, viral diseases in humans,
Data References
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/pdfs/serologicchartv8.pdf
https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/liver-kidneys-and-urinary-system/drug-induced-hepatitis/diagnosis/liver-function-tests.html
https://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/digestive-diseases-hepatitis-b#1
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/306288.php
https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-b
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/symptoms-causes/syc-20366802
https://www.hepb.org/prevention-and-diagnosis/diagnosis/hbv-blood-tests/
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contentid=hepatitis_b_surface_antigen&contenttypeid=167
