The drug gives the patient a weakened form of the virus. The body's immune system 'learns' what the virus is and produces anti-bodies to fight the infection. The anti-bodies remain in the patient's bloodstream - ready to fight the full-blown disease, should they catch it in later life.
No foods are antiviral. Only fairly strong drugs have antiviral properties.
it is an example of antiviral drugs
Guanine nucleoside analogues, Nucleoside analogues and Antiviral drugs
Exclusive of the antiretroviral agents used in HIV (AIDS) therapy, there are currently only 11 antiviral drugs available, covering four types of virus.
As of August 2013, there appears to be new antiviral drugs in the fight against Hepatitus B. According to other reports, there is a potiential antiviral medication that will be able to cure most viruses.
Antivirals are used to treat infections caused by viruses.
Gray, Mary Ann. "Antiviral Medications." Orthopaedic Nursing 15 (November-December 1996): 82.
Just like antibiotics get rid of bacterial infections, antiviral drugs fight against dangerous viruses. A recent example of antiviral drugs is Tamiflu which is used to battle the Swine Flu. For more information, see the below related link.
Antiviral drugs can be used to treat swine flu or to prevent infection with swine flu viruses.They must be prescribed by a health care professional.They work against influenza viruses -- but will not help treat or prevent symptoms caused by infection from other viruses that can cause symptoms similar to the flu.The CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.Recommendations for using antiviral drugs for treatment or prevention of swine influenza will change as we learn more about this new virus.
Just like antibiotics get rid of bacterial infections, antiviral drugs fight against dangerous viruses. A recent example of antiviral drugs is Tamiflu which is used to battle the Swine Flu. For more information, see the below related link.
Prions are not susceptible to antibacterial or antiviral drugs because they are not living organisms like bacteria or viruses. Prions are misfolded proteins that cause other proteins to misfold, leading to disease. They are resistant to most traditional forms of disinfection or drug treatment.
As a class, the antivirals are not curative, and must be used either prophylactically or early in the development of an infection.