antivirals Flashcards
what do viruses consist of?
proteins, nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and potentially a lipid envelope
what viruses typically have or do not have an envelope?
those in the GIT do not and those in respiratory do
what proteins are there in a virus?
structural - part of virus or non-structural - enzymes for replication and taking over the host cell machinery
what is an example of a very large virus?
HSV
what do double DNA stranded viruses do?
they are very large and code for many proteins
what are viruses?
they are obligate parasites - replicate in host and take over their machinery
what is found in the core of a RNA virus?
RNA and reverse transcriptase
what types of viral infections are there?
acute (RNA) or chronic (DNA) - those larger viruses are likely to stay in the host for longer - usually remain for a lifetime
what are examples of acute viruses?
they are generally RNA and these are mumps, influenza, measles and Hep A
what are examples of chronic viruses?
generally DNA
latent - with or without recurrence - herpes simplex or cytomegalovirus or persistent - Hep B and C, HIV and HTLV
what are the characteristics of virus syndrome?
non vesicular rashes - measles, rubella, parvovirus, adenovirus and HHV6
vesicular rashes - fluid filled lesions - chickenpox (HHV3), herpes simplex (HHV1/2) and enterovirus
what are examples of respiratory viruses?
coronavirus (and SARS), influenza, parainfleunza virus, human metapneumovirus, infleunza, RSV giving broncholitis and rhinovirus
what are examples of GIT viruses?
mainly RNA - rotavirus, noravirus, sapovirus, astrovirus and adenovirus group F
what can result in neurological disease and what viruses can cause this?
encephalitis or meningitis - HSV, enteroviruses, Japanese encephalitis virus, Nipah virus and rabies
what are blood borne viruses?
they can be hepatitis viruses - HBV or HCV or retroviruses - HIV1,2 or HTLV 1/2 - can be associated with neurological but most people will not be affected
when would you use antivirals?
where there are acute infections in the general population with high risk of complications, chronic infections such as HIV, HBV or HCV, infections in immunocompromised (post transplant, immunosupressive therapies and primary immunodeficiences), treat invasive disease (encephalitis or disseminated HSV), primary oral-labial or genital herpes, prophylaxis for frequent reactivations
what does self limiting mean?
most viruses get better on own within few days to weeks - longer if immunocompromised
who does disseminated HSV affect?
neonates and immunocompromised
what is used for treatment of HSV?
aciclovir
what is aciclovir used for in HSV?
prophylaxis - lower dose to prevent recurrence
primary oral labial or genital herpes
treat invasive disease - encephalitis, disseminated HSV and severe first time infection
what is the treatment for VZV?
aciclovir
why is acyclovir used for VZV?
broad spectrum disease
infection is more severe in adults
need to be started as soon as possible - within 2 days
treat shingles - reactivation when dormant in ganglia
if over 60 (reduce incidence of post herpetic neuralgia), involves eye or immunocompromised
what is used to treat influenza?
neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir - oral and zanamavir - inhaled
when would you use prophylactic treatment for influenza?
to treat high risk patients in hospital or community - chronic neurological, hepatic, renal, pulmonary and chronic cardiac disease, diabetes, sever immunocompression, age over 65, during and up to 2 weeks post partum pregnancy, morbid obesity, children under 6 months - 90% effective in preventing infection
what is the treatment of chronic viruses?
lifelong treatment up to 95% of the time except HCV which is a RNA virus and can be cured
what are the problems with antiviral treatment?
need to avoid emergence of resistance, challenge to take and maintain adherence and antiviral toxicity