viruses – Hello Doctor

What exactly is a virus?

June 17th, 2019 by Content Editor

Viruses are tiny living organisms that can cause illnesses in humans, animals and even plants. They’re considered the largest biological species on the planet.

Viruses are made up of a protein coat and genetic material but exist only to reproduce. By doing this, they spread to new cells and hosts.

Unlike bacteria, viruses can’t survive without having a host. They can only reproduce if they attach themselves to cells.

Viruses enter the body from the environment or other people; from soil to water to the air through the nose, mouth or even breaks in the skin. Once inside, they look for cells to infect.

After making contact with a host cell, a virus inserts its genetic material into the host to take over its functions. It also reprograms cells to make new viruses until they burst and die. Once a virus takes over a host, it can spread from one organism to another.

Viruses can spread through:

Touch.
Exchanging of saliva, coughing, or sneezing.
Sexual contact.
Contaminated food or water.
Insects that carry them from one person to another.

Common viral diseases include:

Measles.
Smallpox.
The common cold and different kinds of flu.
Hepatitis.
Rabies.
Ebola.
HIV and AIDS.
Zika and Epstein-Barr.

What happens during a viral infection? 

When your body’s immune system finds a virus, it tries to protect your cells against the attack. It makes special antibodies that attach to the viruses so they can’t infect you. T-cells are released to destroy the virus. Most viral infections trigger this response, but with deadly viruses like HIV, it isn’t possible.

Prevention and treatment 

Treating viral infections can be challenging.

While bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, viruses need other medication like antiviral drugs which kill or prevent the growth of viruses.

Antiviral drugs are often used to help with AIDS. Although they can’t destroy the AIDS virus, they can slow down the progress of the disease. Antivirals are also able to treat infections related to herpes, chicken pox, shingles, the flu and Hepatitis B and C.

Vaccines are the cheapest and most effective way to protect yourself against viruses. Some vaccines have even been able to completely remove viruses over time, like smallpox.

Treatment for viral infections also focuses on relief of symptoms while your body works to clear the infection.

This can include things like:

Getting rest.
Drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration.
Using over-the-counter pain medication to relieve pain and fever and decongestants to help with a runny or stuffy nose.
Throat lozenges to help ease a sore throat.

Keep viral infections at bay:

Always wash your hands.
Get vaccinated.
Don’t go out if you’re sick.
Practise safe sex.
Make sure that food is cooked thoroughly, and all raw fruits or vegetables are washed before eating.
Protect yourself against bug bites and use insect repellent if you’ll be in contact with mosquitoes and ticks.

References:

Does your baby’s cough sound like a dog’s bark?

May 13th, 2019 by Content Editor

If so, it could be croup. Croup is a viral illness that makes your baby’s voice box and windpipe swell. The high-pitched or barking cough develops when air is forced against a narrowed.

The smaller your child is, the more noticeable the sound. Some children with severe croup get a harsh, tight sound while breathing in. This is called stridor.

When does it happen? 

The virus that triggers croup can be passed on by breathing in respiratory droplets from a cough from an infected person, or from playing with toys that have the virus on them. Croup normally affects infants and children between the ages of six months and three years. As children grow, so do their airways. Therefore, children older than six don’t often get diagnosed with croup.

What are the symptoms? 

You may notice the typical symptoms of a cold, like a runny nose and fever. Usually, the barky cough begins at night and gets worse when your child gets upset and cries. Croup usually lasts for around five days.

How is croup diagnosed? 

The doctor will usually listen for a cough and stridor. They may also ask if your child has had any recent illnesses that caused a fever and congestion, and whether the child has a history of croup or other breathing problems.

He may also perform an X-ray if the croup is severe and doesn’t get better after treatment. An X-ray, in this case, will help show the top of the airway narrowing to a point, which doctors call a “steeple sign”. This is a narrowing of the airway below the vocal cords.

Home treatment for croup

If your child wakes up in the middle of the night with croup, try to keep him calm to help ease his breathing. Crying can make croup worse.

For a fever, medicine like paracetamol, or ibuprofen for kids older than 6 months can help make your child more comfortable. Ask your doctor for guidance before giving your child any medication.

Help your child breathe in moist air. This can make him feel better.

Use a cool-mist humidifier or run a hot shower to create a steam-filled bathroom where you can sit with your child for 10 minutes. Breathing in the mist will sometimes stop the severe coughing.
In cooler weather, take your child outside to help ease symptoms so they can breathe fresh air.
Make sure your child is well-hydrated. If needed, give small amounts of liquid more often using a spoon or medicine dropper. Children with croup should also get lots of rest.

When to call the doctor 

If you’re concerned that your child’s croup is not improving, contact your child’s doctor, especially if you see the following symptoms:

A sound that gets louder with each breath.
If your child speaks or makes verbal sounds for lack of breath.
Seems to be struggling to catch his breath.
Has blue lips or fingernails.
Has stridor when resting.
Drooling or extreme difficulty swallowing saliva.

References:

Does your child have meningitis? Know the danger signs

May 13th, 2019 by Content Editor

Spotting meningitis can be tricky, and it can be easy for your little one to develop it without you knowing. That’s because the early warning signs and symptoms are almost identical to the flu.

Don’t worry though. By getting to know the signs and symptoms, you can ensure your child gets the right treatment before it becomes serious. Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges; the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

Meningitis is usually caused by bacteria or viruses, and sometimes by illness and certain medication. It spreads like colds and flu, when someone who’s infected touches, kisses, sneezes or coughs on you.

Common signs:

Nausea and vomiting.
Drowsiness.
A small appetite.
Confusion and disorientation.
Sensitivity to bright light.
Fever.
Headache.
Neck stiffness.

More severe symptoms include coma and seizure.

Watch out for these signs in toddlers:  

A refusal to be fed, irritable when picked up, a fever, and a bulging soft spot on their head, and moaning and crying.

Preventing meningitis is the best way to work against it. Remember, not every child gets the same symptoms and they can appear in any order.

Make sure your little ones wash their hands often with soap and warm water. Encourage this, particularly after using the bathroom; when they’ve been around other kids, and when they’ve been in contact with a sick person. Teach them not to share food, utensils and drinks with anyone who is, or has recently been, sick.

If you suspect your child or anyone else has meningitis, you should:

Take them to your doctor immediately.
If you can’t get there right away, call a doctor and describe the symptoms.
Go to the nearest emergency room if your doctor isn’t available.

Treatment 

If a doctor suspects your child has meningitis, he will do tests. A sample from the spinal cord is usually taken. This can show signs of inflammation and infection due to a virus or bacteria. Blood samples may also be taken to check for bacterial infections in the blood. Sometimes, imaging of the head is done to check for swelling and inflammation around the brain.

There are two kinds of meningitis, viral and bacterial. Depending on which kind your child has, he’ll be treated a certain way.

Bacterial 

Severe bacterial meningitis is very serious and must be treated immediately with antibiotics. It helps reduce the risk of complications like brain swelling and seizures. The type of antibiotic depends on the type of bacteria that caused the infection. The sinus may be drained if there’s a build-up of mucus and infection.

In some cases, doctors may give an antibiotic to someone who’s been around an ill person with bacterial meningitis to prevent them from developing the disease themselves.

Viral meningitis 

Unfortunately, antibiotics can’t be used for viral meningitis, but mild cases usually clear up on their own. It can be treated with bed rest, plenty of fluids and over-the-counter pain medication.

References:

What is the difference between viral and bacterial infections?

April 8th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s important to understand the difference between a bacterial and viral infection. Even though both infections can cause similar symptoms, they are treated very differently.

Bacteria create bacterial infections and viruses create viral infections. Many bacterial and viral infections are contagious, which means they can spread from person to person. They can result in mild, moderate, or severe diseases.

Bacterial infections

Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that grow well in different types of environments. Not all bacteria are bad, and not all cause infections. Good bacteria live in your intestines and help to digest food. Disease-causing bacteria live outside of the body.

Infections caused by bacteria include:

Strep throat
Whooping cough
Some ear infections
Urinary tract infections (UTI)
Food poisoning
Skin infections

Viral infections

Viruses are small organisms that need living hosts like people, animals or plants to successfully multiply, or else they won’t survive. When a virus enters your body, it invades some of your cells and takes over the cell machinery. Viral infections can be minor, like the common cold, or could involve your nervous system, making you seriously ill.

Infections caused by a virus include:

Influenza
Common cold
Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
Chickenpox
Measles
Viral meningitis (an infection of the membranes (linings) that cover the brain and spinal)
HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus)

Bacterial or viral?

Most times it’s difficult to figure out if it’s a bacterium or a virus causing your symptoms. Your doctor may be able to diagnose your condition based on your medical history and your symptoms.

For your doctor to diagnose the cause of your condition, a sample of blood, mucus, urine, stool or skin may be taken. This will help determine whether an antibiotic may be helpful in treating your condition. Antibiotics are only effective in treating bacterial infections, they are powerless against viruses.

Treatment

Antibiotics are usually the prescribed treatment for bacterial infections and there are many types available. They all work to keep bacteria from growing and dividing again.

Treatment for viral infections typically focuses on relief of symptoms while your body works to clear the infection on its own. This can include things like:

Getting rest
Drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration
Using over-the-counter pain medications to relieve pain and fever and decongestants to help with a runny or stuffy nose
Throat lozenges to help ease a sore throat

In some cases, your doctor may give you antiviral drugs, which is medication for treating viral infections rather than bacterial ones. These act by killing or preventing the growth of viruses. Not all virus infections have antiviral drugs that can treat them, and most of the virus infections just need to be cleared by your body’s immune system.

Prevent infections

Infections can be caused by either bacteria or viruses and spread in many of the same ways. Keep yourself from getting sick and spreading both bacterial and viral infections by:

Always washing your hands.
Getting vaccinated.
Not going out if you’re sick.
Practising safe sex.
Making sure that food is cooked thoroughly and all raw fruits or vegetables are washed before eating.
Protecting yourself against bug bites and using insect repellent if you’ll be in contact with insects like mosquitoes and ticks.