Saturday, March 9, 2013

DISEASES CAUSED BY VIRUSES


DISEASES CAUSED BY VIRUSES



  • A virus is a microscopic parasite that depends on living cells for its survival. 
  • Once viruses gain entry to the body, they start destroying healthy cells by consuming the nutrients in them. 
  • Viruses also use healthy cells as their breeding grounds. 
  • This usually leads to health issues and diseases, which can trivial or fatal in nature.


Chickenpox


  • Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease. 
  • Four million children in America per year became infected with the chickenpox virus before the chickenpox vaccine became available, according to the Mayo Clinic. 
  • Signs are a red rash and small blisters, or pox, that eventually break open. 
  • These rashes are often accompanied by fever, headache, cough and loss of appetite. The pox normally develop on the face, chest, scalp and back. 
  • After infection, virus can be transmitted to another person within 48 hours.


Influenza

  • Flu is a respiratory disease, mainly caused by the influenza virus. 
  • According to the New York State Department of Health, 5 to 20 percent of the population is diagnosed with flu annually. 
  • Influenza symptoms include high fever, headache, sore throat and muscle aches. Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting may also occur. 
  • Respiratory droplets that are released into air by infected people coughing and sneezing spreads the virus to healthy people.


Hemorrhagic Fever

  • Viruses belonging to four different categories cause viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF). Early symptoms are muscle aches and fever. 
  • However, as the virus progresses, it often causes internal and external bleeding, because VHF affects the vascular system of the body. 
  • These viruses make the blood vessels porous, which can lead to minor or massive bleeding. 
  • Patients bleed under the skin, internally, or even from the eyes or mouth with this affliction. 
  • VHF affects internal organs, particularly the liver, lungs and kidneys. 
  • It is often fatal.



Meningitis

  • The fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), becomes affected by the virus that causes meningitis. 
  • The meninges protects the spinal cord, brain and the CSF. 
  • Enteroviruses affect the CSF, causing headaches, high fever and stiffness in the neck. Other symptoms include nausea, sleepiness and vomiting. 
  • In many cases, meningitis is caught by being in contact with an infected person.


Common Cold

  • The common cold is a viral infection caused by a virus that affects the upper respiratory tract. 
  • It usually manifests as a runny nose, cough, constant sneezing or sore throat. 
  • Common cold viruses usually enter the body through the nose or mouth. The cold is a harmless infection, and recovery takes one or two weeks.



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