The covid – 19 pandemic is the most harmful pandemic of the last century and is caused by a coronavirus.

This pandemic has adversely affect the health, finances and lifestyle of millions of people worldwide. While most people earlier did not bother about the various disease causing microbes especially bacteria and viruses, the havoc caused by the covid – 19 virus has forced people to become more health conscious. They would like to get more information about the Virus infections and their treatment, so that the y can take precautions to prevent infection by the virus, and get the best possible treatment if infected.

Virus definition

Viruses consist of particles of either RNA or DNA, the genetic material, which are covered with a protein coating. A fatty envelope is also present in some virus. Viruses cannot multiply alone, they depend on the organism they infect to reproduce. While viruses are commonly associated with disease causing viruses like common cold, covid – 19, influenza, chickenpox, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), there are some viruses which have important roles in animals, plants, protecting them against other infections. There hundreds of viruses of different types which differ in their genetic structure.

Viral infection A viral infection is caused when the virus enters the human body and multiplies rapidly,the person has a viral infection. There are different types of viral infections based on the part of the body which is affected. Some of the major types of infection are

-Respiratory: affecting t he respiratory system, nose, airway and lungs. The rhinovirus causes the common cold, and there are more than two hundred viruses in this category. In addition to cold, sneezing, coughing, sore throat are symptoms of this illness

– Influenza : symptoms are fever, body ache and fatigue

– Skin infection : These cause symptoms like bumps, rashes with chickenpox, herpes simplex some of the diseases caused

– Digestive ailments and food poisoning: Hepatitis A causes jaundice, which affects the liver, and rota – vir us causes diarrhea

Treatment

The immune system of the human body will usually fight the virus infection and the person will automatically get cured within a few days especially for common cold. However, in some cases, the person may have other health problems which are worsened due to the viral infection. Usually the best way to treat the virus infection is to allow the person infected to take enough rest, sleep well, so that the immune system can fight against the virus. The patient should also have plenty of fluids, including chicken soup and nutritious foods. If the patient has fever, body ache and pain, he should take Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

Prevention

While most virus infections can be treated, it is always better to take precautions to prevent infection to avoid wastage of time and money. To prevent respiratory infections, it is advisable to avoid contact with infected persons to the extent possible, wash hands frequently, disinfecting surfaces, wearing face masks. Viral skin infections can be prevented b y not using swimming pools open to all, avoid sharing towels. Food related viral infections can be prevented by washing the hands properly before eating, preparing food, and ensure that the food is heated to kill the viruses.