Viral infection
A viral infection is caused by a virus and is often the cause of minor illness, such as a cold or the stomach flu. A viral infection usually causes many different symptoms that often come on quickly (over hours to a day or two) without prior illness.
Symptoms of a cold include a sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches. A viral stomach flu may cause vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea.
Viral infections that cause minor illnesses are usually not serious and go away without medical treatment. Home treatment can relieve the symptoms of colds and stomach flu and prevent problems, such as dehydration. Antibiotics are not used to treat a viral illness and will not help cure a viral illness.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise