6 Types of Diseases Caused by Viruses

A virus is a type of microbe that can exist in any conceivable place in the environment. It is a single-celled microorganism that needs another cell of a living organism to replicate.

Usually, it enters the body through the mouth, nose, eyes, skin, genitals, or exposed wounds. Then, it invades a healthy cell in your body and multiplies itself. That is how diseases caused by viruses develop in the human body.

What Are Viral Diseases?

Any disease resulting from a viral infection is called viral disease. Not all viral diseases are transmissible, which means they do not spread from direct contact. But many of those are highly contagious such as flu, cold, HIV, etc.

What Are the Various Diseases Caused by Viruses?

Below are some common viral diseases with their symptoms.

1. Gastrointestinal Diseases

These types of viral diseases affect your digestive system, causing gastroenteritis. In addition, stomach flues are highly contagious, spread through contaminated water and food.

Common Symptoms

Stomach ache
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Nausea and headache
Muscle ache
Loss of appetite
Dehydration

Examples

Names of some diseases caused by viruses in your digestive system are as follows:

Rotavirus
Adenovirus
Astroviral infection
Norovirus

2. Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory diseases are some of the most common diseases caused by viruses. These are highly contagious and spread through the sneeze droplet in the air. It starts affecting the upper respiratory tract and can escalate to the lower respiratory tract.

Common Symptoms

Cough and sneeze
Runny or stuffy nose
Mild to high fever
Body and muscle pain

Examples

Below are some names of viral respiratory diseases:

Common cold
Flu or influenza
Infection from Parainfluenza virus
Adenovirus infection
SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Infection from Human Respiratory Syncytial virus

3. Hepatic Diseases

Hepatitis A, B and C viruses affect the human liver and cause inflammation. The disease can worsen if a patient continues with a poor diet and alcohol intake.

Common Symptoms

Fever and fatigue
Stomach ache
Loss of appetite
Pale stool
Abdominal cramps
Vomiting and jaundice

Examples

Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E are some hepatic diseases caused by the virus in humans.

4. Hemorrhagic Diseases

These viral diseases are acute conditions caused by a damaged cardiovascular system. Hemorrhagic illnesses or fevers can be life-threatening and attack many other organs of your body.

Common Symptoms

Bleeding from mouth and ear
High fever and fatigue
Bleeding in the internal organs
Body pain and headache
Bleeding underneath the skin

Examples

Below are some examples of viral hemorrhagic illness:

Dengue
Yellow fever
Lassa fever
Ebola
Marburg fever
Crimean-Congo fever

5. Cutaneous Diseases

Cutaneous diseases constitute another type of diseases caused by viruses that affect the integumentary system or epidermis. It causes skin lesions that may be persisting for a long while.

Common Symptoms

Flat or raised red spot
Rough and scaly skin
Lesions or sores
Painful or itchy rash
Skin patches

Examples

The followings are some examples of cutaneous diseases -

Molluscum contagiosum or water warts
Genital warts and oral warts
Painful and itchy genital
Chickenpox
Measles

6. Neurologic Diseases

These diseases take place once the virus attacks your central nervous system. It can cause severe damage to your brain and spinal cord. Most of these viral infections are asymptomatic but can have life-threatening consequences.

Common Symptoms