Introduction
A virus infection causes different diseases in the body, depending on the pathogen and how it enters the body. Viruses enter an organism, settle and multiply. The viruses enter the body via different routes. Cold and flu viruses are usually transmitted by droplet infection and settle on the mucous membrane of the nose or throat. Other viruses enter our body through injuries or even food.
Causes
The cause of a viral infection is the successful penetration of the viruses into an organism. Infection with viruses can occur in various ways. Many viruses are transmitted via droplet infection.
In this process, they are released into the air by people who are already infected when they speak, cough or sneeze. If these viruses reach the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract of other people, they become infected. This is how the viruses for colds, measles and chickenpox are spread.
In contrast to droplet infection, contact/smear infection is not transmitted via the air, but via the body excretions of infected people or animals. One speaks of a contact infection when the person affected comes into direct contact with the infected person. Viruses can also be transmitted indirectly, for example through contaminated objects or food.
Examples are Ebola and polio. Other viruses are transmitted via body fluids, i.e. through direct contact with the mucous membrane or blood. Such viruses include HIV and hepatite viruses B and C. These topics may also be of interest to you:
- Droplet infection
- Lubrication infection
How does a viral infection differ from a bacterial infection?
There are differences between viral and bacterial infections. A viral infection is often accompanied by an elevated temperature (37 – 38°C), while a fever is more likely to occur with bacterial infections (often above 38.5°C). In the case of a bacterially caused infection, the symptoms hardly improve at all for days and pain usually occurs only in the affected body part (e.g. ear).
In contrast, the symptoms of a viral infection improve slowly from day to day and the discomfort is usually spread throughout the body. Such a viral infection usually lasts for 3 to 10 days and leads to an improvement of the symptoms even without treatment. A bacterial infection can last from 5 days to 14 days and often shows no improvement in symptoms if left untreated. Only a doctor can determine whether a viral or bacterial infection is actually present.
