Antiviral drug

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Antiviral drug

An Antiviral drug is a type of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. Viruses are completely different from bacteria, which are living organisms. Viruses live inside us and use our cellular machinery to multiply and reproduce. Antiviral drugs are designed to inhibit the development of viruses, not kill them.

Pronunciation

An-ti-vi-ral drug

Etymology

The term "Antiviral drug" is derived from the Latin word "anti" meaning 'against' and "virus" which in Latin means 'poison' or 'slimy liquid'. The term "drug" comes from the Old French "drogue", possibly derived from 'droge (vate)' from Middle Dutch meaning 'dry (barrels)', referring to medicinal plants preserved in them.

Related Terms

  • Virus: A small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.
  • Infection: The invasion of an organism's body tissues by disease-causing agents, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agents and the toxins they produce.
  • Vaccine: A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.
  • Antibiotic: A type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections.
  • Pharmacology: The branch of medicine that deals with the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs.

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