Viral Infection
Viral infections are infections caused by viruses entered into a body and multiplicated in it. Viruses and viral infections are extremely widespread. A variety of viruses and correspondingly a variety of viral diseases is astonishing. About 5,000 types of harmful viruses are identified at present. They differ in their type, structure, severity of the disease, caused symptoms, and whether they affect the whole organism or some organs. Viruses can affect different systems in the body like respiratory, gastrointestinal, reproductive, nervous, etc. Besides, some viruses can infect any person, while others are dangerous only for a certain age group or people having a predisposition.
Viral infections include rhinovirus, adenovirus, coronavirus, influenza (flu), norovirus, enteroviruses, herpes viruses, papillomavirus, polio, Ebola, hepatitis А, B, C, HIV, Zika virus, Epstein-Barr virus, rabies virus, West Nile virus, and many more. Some of the viruses are inherent to certain terrain, for example, viruses carried by certain insects, other ones are widespread.
As for the virus structure, it contains a small piece of genetic code (DNA or RNA), and a protective coat of protein and lipid molecules. Viruses don't reproduce by themselves, they obligatory need host cells for this. They invade a body and attach themselves to the cells. After a virus entered the cell, it releases its genetic material forcing the cell to actively multiply (replicate) the virus. With an active viral infection, a virus destroys its host cell. It makes numerous copies of itself, they explode the host cell and virus particles are released. New virus particles infect new cells. Some viruses act differently, they bud off the virus particles from the host cell over a certain period of time before killing the host cell. There are also viruses changing the function of the host cell.
The common symptoms of viral infection can include flu-like symptoms like fever, headache, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, malaise, fatigue; gastrointestinal disturbances like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting; irritability; rash. These symptoms occur as a result of damage of the cells, destruction of tissues, and body's immune response.
Example 1. Viral Infection Infographic in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM
The ability of the virus to survive in the body largely depends on the organism they infect and how strong its immune system is, but also on the resistance of the virus. Moreover, some viruses can pass to the dormant state for a certain period and then activate and multiply again. For example, these are chickenpox and cold sore viruses. Most viruses are harmful to the body, but there are some protecting the host body against other infections
Antiviral medications are used for treatment. Most of them aim to relieve the disease symptoms, restore the body's own protective properties to help the immune system to fight the virus. There are also medications acting directly on the structures of the virus and aimed at blocking the replication (reproduction) of the virus.
Example 2. Viral Infection COVID-19 Symptoms
There are many ways and tools used to create medical and virology illustrations, beginning from drawing by hand with pencil on paper and ending by the use of expensive professional software. But the most practical, convenient, and cost-effective way is to use ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software supplied with Medical Virology Solution and combining both power, effectivity, and simplicity of use. Succeed in making a detailed overview on viral infection of any kind and origin, its symptoms and transmission, ways to prevent, diagnose and treat different infectious diseases.
Example 3. Virus Library Design Elements
The infographics you see on this page are about viral infection. They were created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software using the Medical Virology Solution and included virology-related pictograms. They successfully demonstrate the solution's capabilities and professional results you can achieve. An experienced user spent 10-15 minutes creating each of these samples.
Use the powerful tools of the Medical Virology Solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software to create your own infographics and diagrams of any complexity fast and easy, and then successfully use them in your work activity.
All source documents are vector graphic documents. They are available for reviewing, modifying, or converting to a variety of formats (PDF file, MS PowerPoint, MS Visio, and many more graphic formats) from the ConceptDraw STORE. The Medical Virology Solution is available for all ConceptDraw DIAGRAM users.