![Viral infections, a brief overview](http://d2hg8ctx8thzji.cloudfront.net/topiclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Viralinfectionsabriefoverview.jpg)
Viruses are the main reasons for causing different types of viral infections. Viral infections can be either treated by vaccination or with the use of antiviral drugs. There are however a number of viral infections which are capable of avoiding the immune response from these countermeasures and develop resistance through mutation.
This is why it is imperative to understand the different types of viral infection and the most common diseases caused by the same. Here is a comprehensive list of common viral infections and their associated viruses.
Encephalitis or Meningitis: Symptoms are mainly caused due to virus strains like JC virus (John Cunnigham Virus), measles, arbovirus and LCM virus (Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis).
Common cold: Common cold affects a majority of the population caused due to rhinoviruses, Parainfluenza virus and also respiratory syncytial virus with mild symptoms like a headache, fever, nausea, fatigue among others.
Pharyngitis: A condition which results in inflammation in the back of the throat affecting the pharynx, which results in symptoms like a sore throat and fever. The viruses commonly causing this condition include Adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and Cytomegalovirus.
Eye infections: Visible indicators of eye infections include pain, itching due to any foreign object in the eyes, sensitivity to light, redness and small lines visible in the white part of the eyeball, crusty puss formation due to a bacterial infection among others. Adenovirus and cytomegalovirus are mainly responsible for causing eye infections.
Pneumonia: A severe lung infection which is caused due to strains of viruses including influenza virus A and B, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus or SARS coronavirus. Common symptoms of pneumonia include a cough with phlegm, fever, chills, difficulty in breathing with a sharp pain in the chest.
Viral skin infections: Varicella-zoster virus, human herpesvirus 6, smallpox, molluscum, contagious, human papillomavirus, Parvovirus B19, rubella, Measles, Coxsackie A virus are the common culprits causing skin infections and the associated symptoms.
Parotitis: Parotitis is a viral infection which affects the salivary glands curable by vaccination. Common symptoms include pain in the abdomen, muscles, pelvis or even in the testicles. People might also experience chills in the body, combined with fatigue, fever leading to loss of appetite. Difficulty in swallowing or soreness in the throat. Other common symptoms of Parotitis include dry mouth, headache, swelling in the neck, swollen lymph nodes, swollen salivary glands and even mild hearing loss.
Other viral infections with carrier viruses which can be transmitted include Pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, cardiovascular, hepatitis, gingivostomatitis, and myelitis among others.
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Tips for relief from pollen allergies
Read moreHave a runny nose, an itchy eye, and the irritating sensation of not being able to sneeze? The pollen count will be on the rise as the weather warms up every day. The warmth and humid weather after a bout of colder months bring you comfort as well as the dreadful. Yes, allergies!
To get relief from pollen allergies, either you can rely on your GP’s prescription of antihistamines or you can try out some pollen allergy remedies. When it comes to home remedies for allergies, you hear a lot about the local raw honey preventing them. Honey is believed to be effective because the regular intake of the local pollen helps build up our immunity. There are plenty of other remedies as well that you can try at home to relieve you from the common symptoms of seasonal pollen allergies.
Nettle-peppermint tea
Usually, nettle has a negative image. However, it’s one of the most incredible herbs you can use once you add it to your regular stock. From relieving dreaded arthritis to lowering your blood pressure to acting as pollen allergy remedies, they perform a wide variety of functions. Peppermint has luteolin-7-O-rutinoside, which is a type of flavonoid that can prevent the activity and secretion of anti-inflammatory enzymes such as histamines.Bee pollen
If the local honey isn’t doing the trick for you, you should go for bee pollen. Start with small amounts and gradually increase their dosage daily. This will help build up your immunity to the pollen in the area. We all know that getting exposed to germs and bacteria during the childhood is vital to developing an immune system. Same way, here we expose ourselves to allergens before the allergy season; so our immune system doesn’t take a blow when the air fills up with pollen. However, you need to be cautious while taking this remedy and must do so only after consultation with a doctor.Refreshing citrus drink
Many allergies peak in the summer when the temperature starts to increase. Hence, they happen to coincide with warm, sunny days when we want to enjoy by frolicking in the outdoor activities. As healing as tea is, sometimes we just need that cold, refreshing drink at our side. This citrus-filled drink is abundant in vitamin C, which can provide relief from pollen allergies, thanks to its incredible ability to nourish our immune system. This is particularly beneficial because your immune system tends to suffer when the pollen allergies affect you.Red onion water
Onions have a water-soluble chemical compound called quercetin in them, which has been demonstrated in studies to reduce the amount of histamine produced in the body, therefore reducing the symptoms of allergies. It is, essentially, nature’s best version of an anti-histamine. Quercetin itself has also been shown to prevent inflammation. It also acts as a bronchodilator, opening up airways and helping you breathe easier. -
How to use the internet for distance communication
Read moreIt’s important to spend times with friends and family. But if they live on the other side of the world, it’s not as easy as a coffee date. Historically, phone calls internationally were expensive and that was another barrier to communication.
With the advent of the internet, most of these problems have been solved. There are a variety of distance communication tools in this digital age. Today, we’re going to talk about how you can use the internet for getting in touch with your friends or family.
You will be able to interact with them and close the communication gap between you and them. Although the communication is between screens, it’s close enough.
Here are 3 ways you can communicate with your friends on the internet.
VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol): VOIP can be thought of as telephoning over the internet except with voice conference software. Skype, Facebook Messenger, and Google Hangouts are good examples of these. VOIP programs don’t charge you a cent for making voice calls to other users. You can simply add their username to your friend’s list and hit the call button. You will be able to talk with them electronically and you won’t be billed for that. Additionally, you will be able to talk as long you like.
Instant Messaging: Instant messaging or live texting is another way to get in touch with friends. You can use platforms such as Facebook, Whatsapp, Viber and other such services to text your friends instantly. Instant messaging is very popular since you can type whatever you want, send and share files, audio, video while typing in text. You can even add emojis and smileys and give the conversation more layers of meaning. You can stimulate your creativity and imagination by making interactions more fun this way. Think of it as text-talking instead of talking with your voice.
E-Mail: If you’ve got a friend half a world away, and you think postal charges are getting expensive, maybe you should try email. There are tons of email services ranging from Gmail, Outlook, MSN, and much more. You can send and exchange emails with each other. The best part is that emails sent are received instantly within a matter of minutes and can be saved, archived, starred, favorited, and viewed later, unlike regular mail. You also save money and paper since you don’t have to worry about writing with ink and making multiple trips to the post office.
Email is superior to IM and phone calls in that the person doesn’t have to respond immediately.
You simply register with an email ID with a registered email service, compose a mail, add the necessary files (can’t exceed the 25MB limit) and fire away.