Virus Infection (VI)

A viral infection is any type of infection that is caused by a virus. They are harder to treat because they are not susceptible to antibiotics like bacteria are because of their protective coating. Viral infections can cause illnesses as minor as the common cold and as severe as AIDS. Many times people will be diagnosed with a viral infection but not get any more specific information about the virus that is causing the symptoms. Usually when this happens, the symptoms are relatively minor and you will recover without any treatment. Health care providers don't always know the exact virus that is causing the illness. This is when you will get the diagnosis of a "viral infection" with no specific name.