Antiviral therapy
Antiviral therapy is a type of medical treatment used to inhibit the development of viral infections.
Pronunciation
An-ti-vi-ral The-ra-py
Etymology
The term "antiviral therapy" is derived from the Latin word "anti" meaning against, and "virus" which is a Latin word meaning poison or slimy liquid. "Therapy" comes from the Greek word "therapeia" meaning healing.
Definition
Antiviral therapy refers to medication that is designed to treat viral infections by inhibiting the development of the virus involved. Unlike most antibiotics, which destroy the bacterial cell structure, antiviral drugs work by inhibiting the development of viral particles.
Types of Antiviral Therapy
There are several types of antiviral therapy, including but not limited to:
- Nucleoside analogues: These are antiviral drugs that resemble the building blocks of DNA and RNA. They work by tricking the virus into incorporating these analogues into its own genetic material, thus preventing it from replicating.
- Protease inhibitors: These drugs work by blocking the activity of a protein that viruses need to replicate.
- Neuraminidase inhibitors: These drugs block a protein that allows newly formed viruses to leave the host cell and infect other cells.
Related Terms
- Antiretroviral therapy: This is a type of antiviral therapy that is specifically used to treat retroviruses, most notably HIV.
- Antiviral drug: This is a type of medication used in antiviral therapy.
- Viral replication: This is the process by which a virus makes copies of itself.
- Viral infection: This is a disease or condition caused by a virus.
See Also
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