Not all viral diseases are contagious. This means they aren’t always spread from person to person. But many of them are. Common examples of contagious viral diseases include the flu, the common cold, HIV, and herpes. Fever and Infectious Maladies Essay.

Other types of viral diseases spread through other means, such as the bite of an infected insect.

Respiratory viral diseases are contagious and commonly affect the upper or lower parts of your respiratory tract.

Common symptoms of a respiratory viral disease include:

• runny or stuffy nose
• coughing or sneezing
• fever
• body aches

Examples

Examples of respiratory diseases include:

• flu
• common cold
• respiratory syncytial virus infection
• adenovirus infection
• parainfluenza virus infection
• severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Transmission

Respiratory viruses are spread by droplets generated through coughing or sneezing. If someone with a viral illness coughs or sneezes nearby and you inhale these droplets, you may develop the disease.

These viruses can also be spread through contaminated objects, such as doorknobs, tabletops, and personal items. If you touch one of these objects and then touch your nose or eyes, you could develop a disease. Fever and Infectious Maladies Essay.

Treatment

Respiratory viral diseases usually heal on their own. But over-the-counter (OTC) medications, including nasal decongestants, cough suppressants, and pain relievers, can help to reduce symptoms.

In addition, Tamiflu, an antiviral drug, is sometimes prescribed if someone is in the very early stages of developing the flu.

Prevention

The best way to avoid respiratory viral diseases is to practice good personal hygiene. Wash your hands often, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and limit your interactions with people who show symptoms of a respiratory condition.

There’s also a vaccine that can help to reduce your risk of getting the seasonal flu.

Gastrointestinal viral diseases affect your digestive tract. The viruses that cause them are contagious and usually lead to a condition called gastroenteritis, also called the stomach flu.

Common symptoms of gastrointestinal viral diseases include:

• abdominal cramps
• diarrhea
• vomiting

Examples

Examples of gastrointestinal viral diseases include:

• norovirus infection
• rotavirus infection
• some adenovirus infections
• astrovirus infection

Transmission

Gastrointestinal viruses are shed in the stool during bowel movements. Food or water that’s been contaminated by feces can spread the virus to others. You can also get the virus from sharing utensils or personal objects with someone who has a virus.

Treatment

There aren’t any treatments for gastrointestinal viral diseases. In many cases, they resolve on their own within a day or two. In the meantime, drink plenty of fluids to replace those lost from diarrhea or vomiting.

Prevention

You can prevent gastrointestinal viral diseases by washing your hands often, especially after using the bathroom. Wiping down contaminated surfaces and not sharing personal items or eating utensils can also help. Fever and Infectious Maladies Essay.

There’s also a vaccine for rotavirus that’s recommended as part of a child’s vaccination schedule.

Exanthematous viruses cause skin rashes. Many of them cause additional symptoms as well.

Many of the viruses in this category, such as the measles virus, are highly contagious.

Examples

Examples of exanthematous viral diseases include:

• measles
• rubella
• chickenpox/shingles
• roseola
• smallpox
• fifth disease
• chikungunya virus infection

Transmission

Many exanthematous viruses are spread through respiratory droplets from the cough or sneeze of someone with the virus.

Other exanthematous viral diseases, such as chickenpox and smallpox, can be transmitted by coming into contact with fluid in broken skin lesions.

Shingles only occurs in people who’ve had chickenpox at some point. It’s a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus that’s been lying dormant in your cells.

Chikungunya virus is spread through a mosquito bite and cannot be transmitted from person to person.

Treatment

Treating exanthematous viral diseases focuses on managing symptoms. Fever-reducing medications, such as acetaminophen, can help with some of the more bothersome symptoms.

Antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir, may be given for chickenpox or shingles.

Prevention

Measles, rubella, chickenpox, shingles, and smallpox can all be prevented through vaccination.Fever and Infectious Maladies Essay.  You can reduce your risk of a chikungunya virus infection by protecting yourself from mosquito bites.

Learn more about viral rashes.

The hepatic viral diseases cause inflammation of the liver, known as viral hepatitis. The most commonTrusted Source types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, B, and C.

It is worth noting that diseases caused by other viruses, such as cytomegalovirus and the yellow fever virus, can also affect the liver.

Examples

Examples of hepatic viral diseases include:

• hepatitis A
• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C
• hepatitis D
• hepatitis E

Hepatitis B and C can be transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids. Sharing items that come in to contact with blood, such as needles or razors, can also spread the virus. Hepatitis B can be spread through sexual contact.

People get hepatitis A and E by consuming food or water that’s been contaminated with feces from someone with the virus.

You can only develop hepatitis D if you already have the hepatitis B virus.

Treatment

Treatments for hepatitis B, C, and D focus on managing symptoms. In some cases, a doctor might prescribe medication, such as antiviral drugs. Fever and Infectious Maladies Essay.

Treatment of hepatitis A and E involves supportive measures, such as getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids, and avoiding alcohol.

Prevention

There are vaccines for both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. There’s also a vaccine for hepatitis E, but it’s not available in the U.S.

Other ways to prevent viral hepatitis include not sharing needles or razors, practicing safe sex, and avoiding food or drinks that may be contaminated by feces.

Cutaneous viral diseases cause lesions or papules to form on the skin. In many cases, these lesions can stick around for a long time or come back after disappearing for a while.

Examples

Examples of cutaneous viral diseases include:

• warts, including genital warts
• oral herpes
• genital herpes
• molluscum contagiosum

These viruses are contagious. They’re usually spread through close physical contact with someone who has the virus or touching a contaminated object, such as a towel or faucet handle.

Treatment

Papules that form due to warts or molluscum contagiosum often go away on their own. They can also be removed by simple in-office procedures, such as cryotherapy.

There’s no cure for herpes, but antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, can help to shorten or prevent outbreaks.

Prevention

Practicing good hygiene habits, avoiding the sharing of personal items, and avoiding close contact with people who have active lesions can reduce your risk of developing a cutaneous viral disease.

Hemorrhagic viral diseases are severe conditions that involve damage to your circulatory system.

Symptoms of a hemorrhagic viral disease include:

• high fever
• body aches
• weakness
• bleeding under the skin
• bleeding from the mouth or ears
• bleeding in internal organs

Examples

Examples of viral hemorrhagic diseases include:

• Ebola
• Lassa fever
• dengue fever
• yellow fever
• Marburg hemorrhagic fever
• Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Transmission

Some hemorrhagic viral diseases, such as dengue fever and yellow fever, are spread through the bite of an infected insect.

Others, such as Ebola, are spread to other people through contact with the blood or other bodily fluid of someone with the virus.Fever and Infectious Maladies Essay.  Lassa fever is spread through inhaling or consuming the dried feces or urine of a rodent with the virus.

Treatment

There’s no specific treatment for hemorrhagic viral diseases.

It’s important to stay hydrated if you have a viral hemorrhagic disease. Some people may need intravenous (IV) fluids to maintain electrolyte balance. Supportive care to maintain hydration and electrolyte balance is essential. In some cases, the antiviral drug ribavirin may be given.

Prevention

Researchers are in the process of developing vaccines for several hemorrhagic viruses. A yellow fever vaccine is currently available for people traveling to areas where yellow fever is common.

If you live or work in an area where viral hemorrhagic diseases are common, you can do the following to reduce your risk:

• Use proper protection, such as gloves, glasses, or a face shield, when working around people who have a virus.
• Avoid being bitten by insects, especially mosquitos and ticks, by wearing protective clothing or using insect repellent.
• Protect against rodent infestation by keeping food covered, removing garbage often, and making sure windows and doors are secured properly.

Some viruses can infect the brain and surrounding tissues, causing neurologic viral diseases. Fever and Infectious Maladies Essay. This can result in a range of symptoms, including:

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER NOW

• fever
• confusion
• drowsiness
• seizures
• coordination problems

Examples

Examples of neurologic viral diseases include:

• polio
• viral meningitis
• viral encephalitis
• rabies

Many neurologic viruses are spread through the bite of an infected animal or bug, such as a mosquito or tick.

Other viruses, such poliovirus and other enteroviruses, are quite contagious and spread through close contact with someone with the virus. Contaminated objects can also contribute to the spread of these viruses.

Treatment

There’s no specific treatment for people with mild viral meningitis or encephalitis. Getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, and taking OTC anti-inflammatories to ease pain or headaches can all help. In some cases, antiviral medication may be prescribed.

Polio or severe cases of meningitis or encephalitis may require additional treatment, such as breathing assistance or IV fluids.

If an animal that’s suspected to have the rabies virus bites you, you’ll be given a series of shots to help prevent the rabies virus from infecting you.

Prevention

There’s a vaccine for both poliovirus and the mumps virus, which can cause meningitis and encephalitis.

Practicing good hygiene, avoiding close contact with those who have the virus, and protecting against insect bites can all help to reduce the spread of encephalitis and meningitis.

To reduce the risk of spreading rabies, keep your pets vaccinated and avoid approaching wild animals.

There are many viral diseases. Some, such as the common cold or the stomach flu, are minor and go away on their own within a few days. Others, however, are more serious.

Unlike bacterial infections, viral diseases don’t respond to antibiotics. Instead, treatment usually focuses on managing symptoms and supporting the immune system with plenty of rest and hydration. Fever and Infectious Maladies Essay.