Viral Skin Infections
A virus is a pathogen (meaning “gives birth”) that infects cells of living organisms, such as in the skin of the human body, living and spreading within the cells of the host. Through Virology, thousands of different types of viruses have been identified as deriving from either transferable DNA/RNA or bacteria. People all over the world have antibodies for certain viral infections because all at some point are infected by a virus that commonly also affects the skin organ.
Types of Viral skin infections
Viral Infection Classifications
The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) have grouped discovered viruses according to a taxonomic structure consisting of order, family, subfamily, genus, and species; and in so doing have identified five orders: Caudovirales, Herpesvirales, Mononegavirales, Nidovirales, and Picornavirales.
Today this system is used along with the Baltimore classification system that classifies viruses according to Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA). In common skin conditions where dsDNA virus does not use reverse transcriptase, this works as follows:
Group I Baltimore Classification: Chicken Pox (Varicella Zoster Virus) > Order (Herpesvirales) > Family (Herpesviridae) > Subfamily (Alphaherpesvirinae) > Genus (Varicellovirus)
Common Viral Skin Infections
The list of viral infections that are RNA and or DNA generated is extensive based on how the transmission and infection process has occurred. Some common viral skin infections include:
- Chicken Pox; Shingles; Ramsey-Hunt syndrome (Varicella Zoster Virus)
- Cold Sores; Genital Herpes; (Herpes Simplex Virus)
- Glandular fever (Epstein-Barr Virus and Mononucleosis)
- Warts (Human Papillomavirus)
- Viral Cancers (Oncovirus such as Human Papillomavirus, Hepatitis B and C, Epstein-Barr Virus, Human T-lymphotropic Virus and Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus)
- Fifth Disease or Slapped Cheek Disease (Erythem Infectiosum)
- German Measles or Rubella (Togaviridae) and Measles (Morbilli Virus)
- Roseola (Herpes Viruses 6 and 7)
- Eczema and Dermatitis (Molluscum Contagiosum Virus – MCV)
- Orf (Parapox Virus)
- Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (Coxsackie Virus or Enterovirus 7)
- Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome (Hepatitis B, Epstein Barr, Coxsackie, Echo, and Respiratory Syncytial Viruses)
- Kaposi’s sarcoma (HIV)
Causes of Viral skin infections
The metabolic processes used by the virus to cause infection, multiply and spread disease (virulence) differs depending on the order and classification of the virus. Viral skin infections can result from a number of causes that include:
- insects, such as disease-carrying mosquitos who cause malaria
- sneezing and coughing (influenza) through respiratory mucous and saliva
- faecal to oral contact or poor hygiene, such as not washing hands when going to the toilet and touching the mouth or food (gastroentiritis)
- engaging in oral sex, penetrative sex and kissing (HIV)
- population density and number of people with weak immune systems
- mutations in the host
- weather, such as Ultraviolet radiation
- aquatic environments, such as sea or fresh water
- metabolic malfunction
- hormonal and emotional stress levels
- abrasion or injury
- sports (Scrum Pox in Rugby)
- health-care environments and operations
- animals (such as Orf from sheep and goats)
Diagnosing Viral skin infections
Diagnosis
Viral infections cause what is known as cytopathic or cytopathogenic multiplication effect resulting in cell and tissue degeneration. If chronic, the result is disease such as hepatitis B and C. The infected hosts are called carriers. If inactive, the virus is termed latent. Viral infection goes through a incubation period of a few days to a couple of weeks where symptoms are not obvious and the host is contagious. The symptoms depend on the type of virus, the transmission and possible cause, and can range from a mild rash or lesions to inflamed ulcers and disease attacking nerves and the immune system. Besides physical symptoms and skin biopsy, blood tests are commonly used to test for viral infection.
Treating Viral Skin Infections
Most viral infections cause a natural immune response that eventually destroys the virus or vaccines can be used to prevent infection. However, sometimes the human body is not strong enough to combat effect of infection and then the following treatments are used:
- Anti-viral drugs are most commonly used to treat viral infections and are designed to actually destroy the infected host cell. Antibiotics cannot be used because they are not effected in destroying or preventing viral activity.
- Vaccines derived from viral proteins (antigens) or killed viruses are used to eradicate viral disease, such as Smallpox.
- Virotherapy uses biotechnology and genetic engineering techniques to develop subunit vaccines that can safely be administered to infected people with weak immune systems of with other immune-deficiency conditions.
- Minor surgery with liquid nitrogen
Children are often given vaccines at birth and also in development because viral infections can cause deafness, blindness, heart failure and mental retardation. Besides infection, viruses contribute to lowering carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, and are used in medical treatments for healing.