A person with a viral infection often spreads the virus before symptoms appear. Viruses are everywhere and are a part of everyday life. Read on to learn how you can protect yourself and others.

Is Viral Infection Contagious?

Viruses are microscopic particles that invade a person's living, normal cells to sustain themselves, multiply and produce other viruses like themselves to survive. These infectious microorganisms are known as pathogens, like bacteria and fungi.

They consist of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a coat of protein. Viruses differ from one another. Others have an additional coating, crownlike spikes or spherelike shapes that help them latch onto and enter hosts more easily.

No matter how quickly viruses multiply, viral diseases aren't always contagious. Viral infections also don't always cause sickness. A person's immune system can help fight it off. Vaccinations can also help prevent certain viral diseases. However, many viruses can kill, damage or change healthy cells and cause severe illness or complications.

Some viruses attack certain cells in the body, such as the respiratory system, liver, digestive tract, skin, brain and blood. While most common infectious viral diseases, such as the common cold and flu, are minor and go away with rest and medication, highly contagious viral infections like HIV/AIDS, Ebola and COVID-19 are more severe and can even cause death.

Other viral conditions are:

• Encephalitis and meningitis
• Gastroenteritis
• Hepatitis C
• Polio 
• Dengue fever
• Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV)
• Zika virus

What Are the Signs of a Viral Infection?

Viral infection symptoms depend on the type of virus and how it affects the body. An infection occurs when pathogens like viruses invade the body and cause adverse reactions. Some people with viral infection have general symptoms such as fever or feeling feverish/chills, weakness or night sweats. In comparison, others have symptoms specific to a body part, such as mouth ulcers, diarrhea or swelling.

People who have the following viral infection symptoms should get medical care right away:

• Shortness of breath 
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Persistent dizziness, confusion or inability to stay awake
• Seizures
• Inability to urinate
• Severe muscle pain
• Severe weakness
• Fever or cough that keeps coming back or worsens
• Worsening chronic medical conditions

How Do You Recover from a Viral Infection?

Treatments for most viral infections can only help with the symptoms while you wait for your immune system to fight off the virus. Unlike bacterial infections, antibiotics don't work as much on viral infections. Your doctor may recommend antiviral medicines to treat viral infection symptoms. However, the only treatment option for people with viral diseases with no cure is symptom relief.

Vaccines offer protection and reduce your risk of contracting many viral diseases. Remember, it's always better to prevent a disease than to treat it after it occurs. If you experience any viral infection symptoms, it will help to be proactive and seek medical help. Please don't delay care. We're here for you, always.