Many diseases are caused by viruses such as the flu, chicken pox, hepatitis, and HIV. While they differ in symptoms such as fever and weakness, some present no symptoms at all. The potential for recovery depends on the type of virus. Viruses may cause harm and if left untreated potentially death.
It is highly desirable to develop multiple antivirals whenever possible. Currently, antiviral therapy is available only for a limited number of infections, including those caused by HIV, herpes, hepatitis B and C, and influenza A and B.
Drug companies and researchers are investigating new and existing antivirals for potential use in treating COVID, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Several countries have approved the use of the drug remdesivir for certain patients. The development of antivirals can be challenging. Fact Sheet pdf icon [ KB, 2 Pages]. Fact Sheet pdf icon [ KB, 2 Pages, 8. Joe Bresee describes how to keep from getting seasonal flu and spreading it to others by taking these three steps. To receive weekly email updates about Seasonal Flu, enter your email address:.
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What are the possible side effects of antiviral drugs? The term microbes refers to microscopic organisms, which include bacteria , fungi, and viruses. People can further divide antimicrobials into antibiotics , antifungals , and antivirals , with the name of each of these referring to the microbe that the substance targets.
For example, antiviral substances fight against viruses and are not effective against bacteria or fungi. Conversely, antibiotics and antifungals will have no effect on viruses. Antivirals work to prevent viral infection, replication, and growth. Most antivirals target a specific virus, but some broad-spectrum antivirals are available that work against multiple viruses.
Antiviral drugs do not directly destroy the virus but work by preventing the infection process. As viruses need to infect and replicate in host cells to survive, preventing this process allows antiviral medications to combat viruses.
An antiviral drug can do this in several ways:. Examples of antiviral drugs include oseltamivir Tamiflu , which tackles influenza, and acyclovir Zovirax , which treats herpes and chickenpox. In addition to prescribing antiviral medications, doctors may recommend vaccinations. These differ from antivirals but are another safe and effective way to combat viral infections. Instead of using antiviral agents to prevent the infection process, vaccinations prepare the immune system to detect and eradicate viruses.
However, the effectiveness of different types of face coverings can vary greatly. Some may feature an antiviral coating to make them more effective. A study highlights that coating masks with a glycoprotein called lactoferrin may help provide further protection and prevent the transmission of viruses. Lactoferrin mimics the sticky carbohydrates present in the throat and nasal passages, which allows it to capture viral particles in airborne droplets and stop them from infecting a person.
Another study notes that infusing masks with quaternary ammonium salts can also help protect against viral contamination by inactivating viruses.
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