What is antiviral

Research highlights the antiviral properties of quaternary ammonium compounds against a broad spectrum of viruses. Several commercial cleaning products may kill harmful viruses. These products can contain various active ingredients and will usually advertise their effectiveness against viruses.

Two active ingredients that household cleaning products commonly include are sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide. These two chemicals are oxidizing agents and are capable of inactivating viruses. They do so by destroying the protein coating that protects the viral genetic material. This means that the virus can no longer reproduce.

Research suggests that both of these disinfectants are effective in inactivating coronaviruses on household surfaces. Several common herbs may also have antiviral properties. Their concentrated plant compounds may act to kill viruses or reduce the symptoms of the resulting diseases. For example, oregano contains a key plant compound called carvacrol , which possesses antiviral properties that evidence suggests might be effective against SARS-CoV A study notes that compounds present in peppermint leaf extract exhibit antiviral activity against the respiratory syncytial virus.

Another study indicates that sage contains compounds that possess antiviral properties. Rosemary may also have antiviral effects. A study highlights that a compound present in rosemary called oleanolic acid displays an antiviral response against HIV and influenza. Rosemary essential oil also shows antiviral activity against hepatitis A. Antiviral substances work to inhibit viral activity by preventing the virus from developing, replicating, and spreading. They fit under the antimicrobial umbrella but differ from antibacterial and antifungal products.

Antiviral substances include antiviral medications, which a doctor may prescribe to treat a viral infection. They also include masks and cleaning products, which may help prevent the spread of viruses, and some herbs, which have antiviral properties. Read on to find out what type people should wear and the research behind it. What are some of the best home remedies for herpes? Keep reading to learn about which home remedies may be effective and the supporting research.

Some people use essential oils to relieve symptoms of a cold or flu. Style: MLA. Medical Definition of antiviral Entry 1 of 2. Medical Definition of antiviral Entry 2 of 2. Get Word of the Day daily email! Test Your Vocabulary. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? Love words? Need even more definitions? Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms The same, but different. Ask the Editors 'Everyday' vs. What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'? If you get sick with flu, antiviral drugs are a treatment option.

Check with your doctor promptly if you are at higher risk of serious flu complications full list of higher risk factors and you develop flu symptoms. Flu signs and symptoms can include feeling feverish or having a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue.

Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs to treat your flu illness. Antiviral drugs are not a substitute for getting a flu vaccine. While flu vaccine can vary in how well it works, a flu vaccine is best way to help prevent seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications. Everyone 6 months and older should receive a flu vaccine every year. Antiviral drugs are a second line of defense that can be used to treat flu including seasonal flu and variant flu viruses if you get sick.

Antiviral treatment works best when started soon after flu illness begins. When treatment is started within two days of becoming sick with flu symptoms, antiviral drugs can lessen fever and flu symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by about one day. They also may reduce the risk of complications such as ear infections in children, respiratory complications requiring antibiotics, and hospitalization in adults.

For people at higher risk of serious flu complications, early treatment with an antiviral drug can mean having milder illness instead of more severe illness that might require a hospital stay. For adults hospitalized with flu illness, some studies have reported that early antiviral treatment can reduce their risk of death.

Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started within two days of getting sick. However, starting them later can still be beneficial, especially if the sick person is at higher risk of serious flu complications or is in the hospital with more severe illness. Follow instructions for taking these drugs. Zanamivir is a powder that is inhaled and approved for early treatment of flu in people 7 years and older.

Oseltamivir and zanamivir are given twice a day for 5 days. Peramivir is given once intravenously by a health care provider and is approved for early treatment of flu in people 2 years and older. Baloxavir is a pill given as a single dose by mouth and is approved for early treatment of flu in people 12 years and older. To treat flu, oseltamivir or inhaled zanamivir are usually prescribed for 5 days, or one dose of intravenous peramivir or oral Baloxavir for 1 day. Oseltamivir treatment is given to hospitalized patients, and some patients might be treated for more than 5 days.

Top of Page. Side effects vary for each medication. The most common side effects for oseltamivir are nausea and vomiting.