| Antibiotics are useless against viral infections. This | | | | This is how an infection with essentially the same |
| is because viruses are so easy to use host cells | | | | virus can evade the immune system to maintain. |
| to carry out their activities for them. Therefore, | | | | Vaccination of these types of viruses is difficult |
| antiviral drugs work differently to antibiotics, by | | | | because the virus has changed its format for the |
| interfering with viral enzymes instead. | | | | time vaccines have been developed. |
| Effective antiviral drugs are currently only against | | | | Where to get help |
| certain viral diseases such as influenza, herpes, | | | | * Your doctor |
| hepatitis B and C and HIV - but research is | | | | * Your pharmacist |
| ongoing. A natural protein called interferon (which | | | | Things to remember |
| the body produces to help fight viral infections) | | | | * Many human diseases are caused by infection |
| can be produced in the laboratory and used to | | | | with either bacteria or viruses. |
| treat hepatitis C infections. | | | | * Most bacterial diseases can be treated with |
| Immunization against viral infection is not always | | | | antibiotics, despite the strains resistant to |
| possible | | | | antibiotics are beginning to emerge. |
| It is possible to vaccinate against many serious | | | | * Viruses pose a challenge to the body's immune |
| viral infections such as measles, mumps, hepatitis | | | | system because they hide inside cells. |
| A and hepatitis B. An aggressive vaccination | | | | * It is possible to be vaccinated against some of |
| campaign throughout the world, led by the World | | | | the major viruses that cause diseases (such as |
| Health Organization (WHO), succeeded in | | | | measles and polio) as well as bacterial diseases |
| eliminating smallpox. However, some viruses - | | | | such as Hemophilus influenza type b (Hib), tetanus |
| such as those causing the common cold - are | | | | and whooping cough. |
| capable of mutating from one person to another. | | | | |