Antiviral drugs
Drugs used to treat infections caused by viruses. Because viruses can only function within the cells of their hosts, it has been difficult to produce drugs that act specifically against viruses without damaging their host cells.
The effectiveness of antiviral drugs is therefore limited: frequently they will contain an outbreak of viral activity but are not capable of totally eradicating the infection, which can recur (as with cold sores). Fortunately,
the majority of viral infections resolve spontaneously in most people and do not require specific medication. However, in immunocompromised individuals, whose ability to fight infection is impaired because of drug therapy (e.g. immunosuppressants) or disease (e.g. AIDS), antiviral treatment may be life-saving.
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