What Is Antiviral Drug?

Like most prescription drugs, antiviral drugs are used to treat infections cure diseases and ease or prevent the symptoms. However, to be more specific, antivirals are used to assist the body in fighting infections from various viruses. Of all the infectious microorganisms, viruses are severe disease-causing agents that spread fast and easily. Most diseases caused by viruses are severe, and some are fatal if left untreated.

There are several antiviral drugs on the global market today, and each dosage treats a different kind of viral infection. Most of them are not over-the-counter drugs. This is because they are most effective when diagnosed and prescribed by a qualified physician. Again, abusing such drugs can lead to your body resisting their effect when you need them. Keep reading to understand more about viruses and antiviral drugs. After getting a glimpse of what antiviral drugs are, it is essential to define and elaborate on what viruses are.

Viruses

In definition, viruses are tiny organisms that use their receptors to attach themselves to a healthy cell of a living organism, hence infecting it. Once it gets into your body cell, it duplicates/splits to multiply in number to the extent of killing the cell. After the original cell is dead or destroyed, the microscopic infection agent migrates to the next cell and repeats its cycle. This keeps happening until you have viruses all over your body.

However, some viruses can live in the cells of an organism without destroying them or making the host sick. These viruses are considered latent or in simpler terms, inactive. Nevertheless, it is crucial to note that even inactive viruses are contagious. Therefore, once present in one organism, they can be transferred to the next host in different ways, including: