Viruses are known to be tiny germs. They’re made of genetic material inside of a protein coating. Viruses cause familiar infectious diseases such as the common cold, flu and warts. Sometimes, they can also cause serious illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, smallpox and Ebola.
Viruses are also just like hijackers. They invade living, normal cells and use those cells to multiply and produce other viruses just like themselves. This can either kill, damage or chance the cells and can make you sick. Different viruses attack certain cells in the 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 ward it off.
For most viral infections, treatments can only help with symptoms while you wait for your immune system to ward off the virus. Antibiotics don’t work for viral infections. There are antiviral medicines to help treat some viral infections. Furthermore, vaccines can help prevent you from getting any other viral diseases.
