Viral Infections

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Viral Infections is theNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

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New on the MedlinePlus Viral Infections page:

Immunoglobulins Blood Test

07/25/2018 02:24 PM EDT

Source: National Library of Medicine - From the National Institutes of Health

Summary

Viruses are very tiny germs. They are made of genetic material inside of a protein coating. Viruses cause familiar infectious diseases such as the common cold, flu and warts. They also cause severe illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, smallpox, and Ebola.

Viruses are like hijackers. They invade living, normal cells and use those cells to multiply and produce other viruses like themselves. This can kill, damage, or change the cells and make you sick. Different viruses attack certain cells in your body such as your liver, respiratory system, or blood.

When you get a virus, you may not always get sick from it. Your immune system may be able to fight it off.

For most viral infections, treatments can only help with symptoms while you wait for your immune system to fight off the virus. Antibiotics do not work for viral infections. There are antiviral medicines to treat some viral infections. Vaccines can help prevent you from getting many viral diseases.

Start Here

Bacterial vs. Viral Infections: How Do They Differ?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

Immunoglobulins Blood Test (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

Germs and Hygiene: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish
Help Control Mosquitoes that Spread Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika Viruses(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDFAlso in Spanish
Infection Control: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish

Specifics

About Human Parainfluenza Viruses (HPIVs) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Acute Flaccid Myelitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Adenoviruses (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Croup: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish
Enterovirus D68 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish
Molluscum Contagiosum (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Non-Polio Enterovirus (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)