Is a viral infection treated with the same kind of drug that treats bacterial infections?
Antibacterial drugs, potent against a great variety of bacteria, are not effective against viruses, which are intracellular parasites. A viral infection is difficult to treat since anti-viral drugs are too specific and have limited efficiency. In general the anti-viral drugs reduce the viral load (number of virus) relieving symptoms. The anti- virals (and anti-retrovirals, drugs that act against RNA virals) often inhibit the action of specific enzymes that participate in the virus life cycle.
