Question

Name any two diseases caused by viral infection.

Answer 1

Diseases caused by viruses:

1. Viruses cause a wide range of diseases among living organisms.
2. Diseases caused by viruses in humans include poliomyelitis, mumps, rabies, influenza, measles, chickenpox, common cold, and AIDS.

Hepatitis:

1. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) transmission is by the fecal-oral route, it may occur directly.
2. Infection of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) occurs through infected blood inoculation, from mothers to their babies, and by sexual route.
3. Incubation period: 25 to 30 days for HAV, and 60 to 90 days for HAB.
4. Symptoms: The common symptoms are fever, decreased appetite, nausea, and vomiting. There is pain in the muscles. and joints, urine is dark and stool is whitish pale.
5. A total number of leucocytes decrease but lymphocyte count increases, liver cells are damaged by the hepatitis virus, releasing bilirubin that causes jaundice.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS):

1. It is probably the most fatal disease in humans.
2. It is a sexually transmitted disease as it can pass from one person to another during sexual intercourse.
3. This disease can also be transmitted if blood from an infected person comes in contact with that of a healthy person through a cut or a scratch or by using blood transfusion.