Viruses cause a wide range of diseases in humans by invading and replicating within living cells.
Common Viral Diseases
Viruses are responsible for many common illnesses, including:
- Colds: These are typically mild respiratory infections.
- Influenza (Flu): A more severe respiratory illness that can cause fever, cough, and body aches.
- Warts: Skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Serious Viral Diseases
Some viruses cause serious and life-threatening diseases, such as:
- Smallpox: A highly contagious disease that has been eradicated, but caused severe symptoms, including high fever and skin lesions.
- HIV/AIDS: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
- Ebola: A severe and often fatal disease characterized by fever, bleeding, and organ damage.
- Coronavirus: A family of viruses that can cause respiratory infections, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19.
How Viruses Cause Disease
- Viruses invade normal, living cells.
- They use the cell’s machinery to replicate themselves.
- This replication process often damages or destroys the host cells, leading to disease symptoms.
| Disease | Virus Type |
|---|---|
| Colds | Various viruses | Influenza | Influenza virus |
| Warts | Human papillomavirus (HPV) |
| Smallpox | Variola virus |
| HIV/AIDS | Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) |
| Ebola | Ebola virus |
| Coronavirus infections | Coronaviruses |
