Question

Why do viruses make us sick?

Answer 1

Viruses:

1. Viruses are infectious microbes that infect all living cells.
2. They are incapable of surviving independently and require a host to conduct their life processes.
3. They are parasitic in nature and require the host to provide energy and replicate.
4. Virus particles hijack the host cell and produce molecules required for viral reproduction.
5. They take over the host cell and control their machinery to replicate.
6. Viral infection damages and even kills the host cells.
7. Upon infection, the host immune system springs into action and responds with fever as high temperatures tend to inactivate viruses.
8. The immune system secretes interferon to inhibit viral reproduction and produces antibodies.
9. Hence rather than the virus making us sick, the immune response generated makes us feel sick.