What Happens When a Virus Enters Your Body

When virus enters human body it starts to fight against the virus, at the beginning at level of non-specific immunity then do appear antibodies. Antibodies do neutralize virus and the disease finishes.

However, it is not so easy as it looks at the first sight. In some cases during the time necessary for antibodies production the virus manages to cause many destructions in the body which leads to severe complications. Sometimes virus enters the human body, infects particular cells and stops his existence. It means that virus is in the body and it really is found in particular cells but this causes no disease – virus does not multiply, it stays in the cell waiting until the immunity weakens.

If virus is able to actively multiply it quickly leads to death and destruction of cell he captured. From destroyed cell they get into blood where antibodies are waiting for them. Thus it happens that active viruses cause acute contagious diseases (rubella, measles, mumps) which last all the time that body needs for antibodies production.

Terms for antibodies production are absolutely determined and as a rule it is 5 – 10 days, therefore it always may be said how long a man will be diseased with measles and when the rash would disappear. The doctor always knows after how many days a patient diseased with rubella would feel better. So if influenza lasts three weeks it means that it is not influenza.

The fact that viruses are found in cells of human body determines major complications in treatment of any viral infection. It is very difficult to destroy virus and leave the cell alive. Not surprisingly, there are few antiviral medications and all of them them are quite specific – it means they act against a particular virus (for example, Tamiflu acts against viruses of group A) or group of viruses (Acyclovir -  against all herpes viruses). It is clear that main principle of viral infections treatment is to help body to fight the virus.

Truth About Viral Diseases

Various polls show that most people consider that cold-related diseases are treated with antibiotics. It is wrong belief because antibiotics do not act on viruses. When doctor prescribes antibiotics in case of cold, he supposes treatment of complication that was developed at the back of bacterial infection.

Viral diseases are treated with antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu. The medication works complexly – from the one side it activates natural body defense, from other side it blocks reproduction of viruses in epithelial cells. This approach really helps the body to fight infection much quicker. Tamiflu not develops addiction, it just accelerates natural process of body defense. The immunity may produce itself all necessary protective substances but it requires more time for this.

Figurally, this process may be compared with the situation when you saw a danger and notified security service before security observes the dander itself. Indeed, in older times influenza coursed mildly with running nose and slight weakness which lasted 5 days.

In recent years flus do course severely, practically causing bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis. In first symptoms of starting disease it is necessary to take medications that activate immune system. Vitamins C, D and zinc also improve immunity, therefore may be recommended in case of influenza. Vitamin C may be taken in doses of 2 grams per day.

Many people do sincerely believe that is is dangerous to aerify room because you may catch cold. Cold-related diseases are caused by viruses, concentration of which get increased in closed rooms. Aeration helps to get rid of “excessive” viruses and get a portion of fresh air.

Conditioner not solves this problem, it cools down stagnant air in the room. And if you stay under its cool streams of air, you may easily get cold. Therefore, try to aerify room regularly and dress warm clothes when you stay in a room with conditioner.

ARVI Treatment

Patient with ARVI is treated at home. In case of fever it is recommended bed regimen, dairy and vegetative diet rich in vitamins, plenty of warm liquids (fruit drinks, tea with lemon).  Are prescribed symptomatic drugs: nasal vasomotorial drugs, mucolytics, anti-tussive medications, antihistamine drugs, ascorbic acid, polyvitamins.

In case of causal treatment (directed on fight with causative agent) within 48 hours from the onset of the disease it is necessary to start taking antiviral medications, for example, Tamiflu. In case of complications development and occasional temperature rise after its normalization, start using antibiotics (penicillins, aminopenicillins with beta-lactamase, cephalosporins).

For the specific prevention of influenza, vaccination  is recommended. It should be done before the epidemic rise. However, vaccination is useless in other ARVI cases which are registered all year round.

ARVI prevention:
- common health improvement
- body strengthening
- immunity promotion with exercises
- consumption of food rich in vitamins
Additionally, when pandemic, your doctor may advice you to take vegetative adaptogens and immunomodifiers.

Complications after ARVI
Past viral infection makes body more vulnerable to bacterial infection which results in bacterial complications especially in cases of late diagnostics and untimely ARVI treatment. Past ARVI frequently results in chronic pathology in respiratory ways such as bronchial asthma, sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis.