Viral Pandemic | List of Viral Diseases in Human| Viruses | Viral Infections | Bacterial Diseases | Prevent Viral Infection |
The question on everyone’s mind now is how to protect oneself against this Viral pandemic (COVID-19) and any similar infections. Different types of diseases, epidemics, and plagues have ravaged humanity throughout its existence. However, we have both the natural barriers and the immune system that help defend the body against microorganisms that cause infections.
Natural barriers here are skin, mucous membranes, tears, ear wax, mucus, and stomach acid. In addition, the normal flow of urine eliminates microorganisms that go up through the urinary tract.
The immune system uses white blood cells (leukocytes) and antibodies to identify and kill those microorganisms that have crossed natural barriers.
Viruses and Viral Pandemic or Infection
Viruses are said to be obligate intracellular parasites, since they do not have their own metabolism. This makes the immune system to use its most specialized mechanisms to recognize and eliminate both the Viruses and infected cells.
Viruses normally enter the body through the respiratory tract and through the mouth, but there are also other entry doors such as the bite of a carrier insect or animal (vector), skin, blood, and mucosa. Once in the body, the virus attaches itself to the surface of the host cell to cross its outer membrane and penetrate it where it multiplies using the host cell protein.
This process recycles as new viruses search for new host cells and reproduces until the body creates antibodies and other defenses to fight it off.
Antigen cells, B lymphocytes, and T cells are reported to be part of the mechanism of the antiviral immune response.
Induction of this response with proteins, peptides, and DNA are current practices both in the prevention and treatment of viral infections.
Different Types Of Viruses
Thousands of viruses have been discovered, capable of causing a wide range of diseases in humans. A brief list includes:
- The rhinovirus, which causes the cold, and attacks the nasal cells.
- Influenza viruses are responsible for the flu,
- Adenoviruses cause respiratory diseases such as pharyngitis. They are transmitted by direct contact, or by contact with body fluids, and fecal materials.
- Rotaviruses cause gastroenteritis.
- Herpes viruses cause, mononucleosis, cold sores, genital herpes, or chickenpox.
- Polio viruses can cause paralysis when they reach the spinal cord.
- The human papillomavirus causes epithelial lesions such as plantar and anogenital warts and even laryngeal papilloma or carcinomas such as cervical or squamous cell carcinomas.
- Coxsackieviruses and ECHO viruses sometimes invade the heart or meninges.
- Hepatitis viruses have different routes of transmission. That of hepatitis A (causes acute hepatitis), is transmitted via the fecal-oral route. That of hepatitis B (causes acute, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, or hepatocellular carcinoma) is transmitted through different body fluids such as blood, semen, saliva, etc…. The hepatitis C virus, which causes the same disorders as hepatitis B, is acquired sexually or through the blood.
- The measles virus is acquired by contact with drops as well as mumps.
- HIV is a retrovirus that causes AIDS, which is transmitted sexually, through blood or breast milk.
Symptoms Of Viral Infections
The most frequent symptoms of a viral infection are:
- Fever.
- Diarrhea and / or vomiting.
- Cough.
- Runny or runny nose that may be thick.
- Irritation of the throat.
- Headache.
- General malaise.
Understanding Immunity Better
Currently, the concept of immunity is much broader; it refers to the organic reaction against multiple substances and macromolecules (mainly proteins and polysaccharides) present in microorganisms that cause infectious diseases, such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, multicellular parasites, etc., but not only in them.
Immunity also plays a fundamental role in many other phenomena, such as transplant rejection, auto-immunity, allergies, and the anti-tumor response, among others.
Thus, the cells and molecules responsible for immunity make up the immune system, and their collective and coordinated response is called the immune response.
Natural barriers Against Any Viral Pandemic or Infections
The skin generally prevents invasion by microorganisms unless it is physically damaged due to trauma, injuries, an insect bite, or a burn.
Mucous membranes, such as the lining of the mouth, nose, and eyelids, also function as effective walls against infectious agents. Generally, these membranes are covered with secretions that fight microorganisms.
For example, the mucous membranes of the eyes are bathed in tears, which contain an enzyme called lysozyme that attacks bacteria and acts as protection for the eyes against infection.
The airways filter external particles present in the inhaled air, and the walls of the nose and airways are covered with mucus.
The microorganisms in the air become trapped in the mucus and are expelled by coughing or by blowing your nose. Hair cells drag mucus up the airways out of the lungs.
The gastrointestinal tract produces effective defences, such as stomach acid, pancreatic enzymes, bile, and intestinal secretions, which can kill bacteria or prevent them from multiplying.
The contractions of the intestine and the normal detachment of the cells that line it help to eliminate harmful microorganisms.
The urinary tract also has several effective barriers. The bladder is protected by the urethra, the tube that urine passes through when it leaves the body.
In males, the urethra is long enough that viruses or bacteria are seldom able to reach the bladder through it unless these organisms are unintentionally facilitated when surgical instruments are inserted.
For women, the urethra is shorter, sometimes allowing these organisms to pass into the bladder. In both sexes, when urinating, bacteria, and viruses that may have reached the bladder are expelled.
The vagina is normally acidic. The acidity of the vagina prevents some pathogens from growing and helps maintain the number of protective bacteria.
The Role Of The Blood During Any Viral Pandemic Or Infection
One way that the body has to defend itself against viral infections is the increase in the number of certain types of white blood cells (neutrophils and monocytes); which are responsible for ingesting (phagocytizing) and destroying the microorganisms that invade the body.
This increase can occur in a few hours, largely due to the release of white blood cells from the bone marrow, where they are manufactured.
The number of neutrophils in the blood increases first, but if the infection persists, the number of monocytes increases. The blood then carries the white blood cells (leukocytes) to the area of infection.
However, certain infections such as typhoid fever, or similar viral and bacterial infections that bypass the immune system can cause a decrease in the number of white blood cells (leukocytes).
Cells That Are Part of the Immune Antiviral Response
In higher organisms, there are various mechanisms for fighting viral infections. The immune system has 3 cell populations specialized directly in the fight against viral infection; they are antigen-presenting cells, B lymphocytes, and T lymphocytes.
The antigen-presenting cells (CPA) are in charge of capturing the circulating antigens from the system, internalizing, processing, and presenting them appropriately.
There is no need to go deep into terminologies, but in a broader sense, the term CPA also encompasses the rest of the nucleated cells of the organism.
Treatment And Medication Against Viral Infections
Symptoms are usually treated with antipyretics and pain relievers. The immune system usually kills the invading virus in a matter of days to a few weeks unless it is a latent infection such as those created by herpes viruses, hepatitis B and C viruses, and HIV that require specific treatments.
Viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics since these drugs can only destroy bacteria. There are drugs like ribavirin and acyclovir that can contain the spread of invading viruses without destroying host cells.
Being that viruses are not classified as living yet, killing it is a tricky matter, making prevention your best option.
Prevention Against Viral Pandemic And Infections
Hygiene and vaccination
It is quite effective against virus transmission to maintain frequent and adequate hygiene measures. Such measures include washing your hands frequently or with an alcohol-based sanitizer; avoiding touching surfaces that may have been contaminated.
Also, avoid coming into contact with an infected person through a kiss or a handshake; hands could have been contaminated through acting as barriers in a sneeze …
Furthermore, vaccination is the preventive measure of antiviral immunization. There are effective vaccines against hepatitis A and B, the flu, mumps, polio, measles, rubella, or chickenpox.
