Our patients expect us to be the experts. Here’s what you should know about viruses to keep your patients informed.
Viruses have one mission in life: to find a host and replicate. They have their own genes and are capable of multiplying and evolving. But they don’t have cells and can’t convert food into energy, meaning they can’t survive on their own.
In order to survive and replicate, viruses need to hijack the host’s cells, often causing them to burst and die. That’s why viruses almost always inflict illness when they infect humans. Ugh!
The good news is that we know a lot about viruses: how they wreak havoc and damage humans and how to fend off their wily ways.
1. Viruses are the most plentiful microbes on earth. You know about HIV, influenza, and coronaviruses, but there are plenty more. Out of about 320,000 known types of viruses that infect mammals, there are only 219 that infect humans.
2. Viruses can spread without anyone knowing. They’re sneaky alright. Scientists know that the viruses that cause herpes, COVID-19, and AIDS can be spread from contagious persons who never show symptoms. This means people who never had any signs of illness (even those who don’t have symptoms yet!) are unknowingly infecting others.
Also, some people have been known to be “superspreaders,” who infect several to hundreds of persons without ever knowing. This is why washing hands, covering mouths when sneezing/coughing, and just plain taking precautions is so important even when you’re not feeling sick.
3. Some viruses can infect us more than once. It’s not true that once you’ve been infected with a virus, you’re immune for life. Your immune system plays a key role in spreading this myth, however, because it’s so good at recognizing repeat offenders. When your immune system sees a virus, it builds up antibodies to fight it.
This is how vaccines work, by allowing your immune system to create the antibodies to a virus before actually having to battle the virus. The antibodies remain in your body to help fight off these viruses in the future, however, these antibodies can wain over time, that’s why you’re not immune forever and that’s why some vaccines need booster shots.
Also, viruses have a mind of their own and can mutate, meaning the antibodies your immune system has in reserve are useless against the new strain.
4. Viruses can hide just about anywhere. Different viruses survive for different periods of time on surfaces outside the body. And how long they remain infective on those surfaces is a matter of debate, especially for the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2).
In a study found in the New England Journal of Medicine, the survival rate outside of humans of SARS-CoV-2 depends on the surface and the environment. In studies, SARS-CoV-2 remained active for 2–3 days on metal and plastic surfaces, but only 24 hours on cardboard or paper.
Sneaky places many viruses can hide include railings, remotes, phones, keyboards, door and cabinet handles, sheets, blankets, and pillowcases, faucets, gas-pump handles, equipment at the gym, or utensils at salad bars buffets.
5. The most lethal virus to humans is the rabies virus. Rabies is deadly in about 100% of infected people. To date, only 14 people have survived rabies after showing symptoms. But the good news is that it is 100% preventable thanks to vaccines! Getting a rabies vaccine before exposure or soon after exposure can prevent the infection. Typically, rabies is spread through animal bites, so it crucial to see a medical provider for any and all animal bites; it doesn’t matter the size.
6. There is no cure for viruses. We can’t cure viruses when we get infected with them. There are antiviral medications that help make symptoms less severe, but they are not a cure. The only treatment for viruses is prevention. And the best prevention against viruses are vaccines and lifestyle alterations (think handwashing and covering your mouth when you cough).
7. The best defense against viruses is soap and water. Nope, your mother didn’t just make this up. Simply washing your hands with soap and water is actually the best defense against viruses and here’s why: the soap pries apart most protein-wrapped viruses causing them to rupture. That’s why a critical part of handwashing includes soap and scrubbing (at least 20 seconds . . . since your ABC song!).
8. Antibiotics won’t help viral infections. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. So, when people get colds (colds are caused by viruses) or the flu (also caused by viruses), they shouldn’t ask for an antibiotic (even though they often do). An antibiotic won’t help a viral infection.
Sometimes a prolonged viral infection can open the door for a bacterial infection to set in, that’s when antibiotics can be useful. Encourage patients to discuss the symptoms they’re having with their medical provider–who has been trained to know when antibiotics are helpful and when they are not.
Stay healthy and safe!
Cheers,
