Virology is the study of viruses. It is a subspecialty of microbiology. Viruses can infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archetypes. They replicate only inside the living cells of an organism and are submicroscopic infectious agents. They are found in almost every ecosystem on earth and are the most numerous type of biological entity.

When a cell gets infected, it rapidly produces thousands of identical copies of the original virus. When in the process of infecting a cell or not inside an infected cell, viruses exist in the form of independent particles, or virions.

The shapes range from simple helical and icosahedral forms to more complex structures. Most of the virus species have virions that are too small to be seen with an optical microscope as they are one hundredth the size of most bacteria.

The spread of the virus takes place in many ways. One of the ways of transmission is through disease-bearing organisms… Influenza viruses are spread by coughing and sneezing.  Common causes of viral gastroenteritis, are transmitted by the fecal-oral route, passed by hand-to-mouth contact or in food or water by Norovirus and rotavirus. HIV is one of several viruses transmitted through sexual contact and by exposure to infected body fluids like blood and semen, and instruments like needles and scalpels.

They are acellular therefore the viral populations do not grow through cell division. Instead, they use the machinery and metabolism of a host cell to produce multiple copies of themselves, which they assemble in the cell. The host cell is forced to rapidly produce thousands of identical copies of the original virus when infected.

Nutrition is the science that interprets the nutrients and other substances in food about the maintenance, growth, reproduction, health and disease of an organism. It includes ingestion, absorption, assimilation, biosynthesis, catabolism and excretion

A healthy diet includes; the preparation of food, and storage methods that preserve nutrients from oxidation, heat or leaching, and that reduce the risk of foodborne illness. The seven major classes of human nutrients are carbohydrates,  fats, fibre, minerals, proteins, vitamins, and water. Nutrients can be grouped as either macronutrients or micronutrients.

In humans, an unhealthy diet can cause deficiency-related diseases such as blindness, anaemia, scurvy, preterm birth, stillbirth and cretinism or nutrient excess health-threatening conditions such as obesity and metabolic syndrome; and such common chronic systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Undernutrition can lead to wasting

The study of microorganisms, which are unicellular, multicellular or acellular,  is microbiology. Microbiology covers numerous sub-disciplines which include virology, bacteriology, protistology, mycology, immunology and parasitology.

Traditionally Microbiologists relied on culture, staining and microscopy. Less than 1% of the microorganisms present in common environments can be cultured in isolation using current means. Microbiologists therefore often rely on molecular biology tools such as DNA sequence-based identification.

Viruses have been variably classified as organisms as they have been considered either very simple microorganisms or very complex molecules. Prions, never considered microorganisms, have been investigated by virologists.

The branches of microbiology can be classified into applied sciences, or divided according to taxonomy, as is the case with bacteriology, mycology, protozoology, virology and phycology. A pure research branch of microbiology is termed cellular microbiology.

Research on microorganisms has suggested that they could be useful in the treatment of cancer. Of course, we all know that there are good microorganisms and bad microorganisms. Most microorganisms do not cause disease and many are beneficial to us.

The multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, the invasion of the body and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agents and the toxins they produce results in infection.

An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable disease, is an illness resulting from such an infection.

Infections are caused by various infectious agents – Viruses, Bacteria, and Fungi.

Hosts can fight infections through the host’s inherent immune system. Mammalian hosts immunologically fight against infections with an innate response, often with inflammation, followed by an adaptive response.

Specific allopathic medications to treat infections and their toxins include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, antiprotozoals, and antihelminthics.

An infection may be may not present symptoms and be subclinical or symptomatic and clinically apparent.

Infections are described using different terms. 

Acute infection develops symptoms rapidly and can prolong. Chronic infection happens when symptoms develop gradually, over a prolonged period and are slow to resolve.

In Subacute infection, symptoms take a longer period to develop than in an acute infection but appear quicker than in a chronic infection. Latent infection is a type of infection that may occur after an acute episode; the organism is present but symptoms are not;  later the disease can reappear.

A focal infection is defined as the initial site of infection from which organisms propagate via the bloodstream to various regions of the host’s body.

Health is seen as a state of normal function that could be disrupted from time to time by disease

Systematic activities to prevent or cure health problems and promote good health in humans are undertaken by healthcare providers.  In addition to healthcare interventions and a person’s surroundings, several other factors are known to influence the health status of individuals, including their background, lifestyle, economic, social conditions, and spirituality; these are referred to as “determinants of health.” Studies have shown that high levels of stress can affect human health.

Generally, the context in which an individual lives is of great importance for both his health status and the quality of their life. It is increasingly recognized that health is maintained and improved not only through the advancement and application of health science but also through the efforts and intelligent lifestyle choices of the individual and society.

The maintenance and promotion of health are achieved through different combinations of physical, mental, and social well-being, together sometimes referred to as the “health triangle.

People can improve their health via exercise, enough sleep, spending time in nature, and maintaining healthy body weight. Health and illness can co-exist, as even people with multiple chronic diseases or terminal illnesses can consider themselves healthy.

The environment is often considered an important factor influencing the health status of individuals.  Factors such as clean water and air, adequate housing, and safe communities and roads all have been found to contribute to good health, especially to the health of infants and children.

Headaches occur as a result of many conditions. The causes of headaches may include dehydration, fatigue, sleep deprivation, stress, the effects of medications, viral infections, loud noises, common colds, head injury, rapid ingestion of very cold food or beverage, and dental or sinus issues. Headache is the symptom of pain in the face, head, or neck. It can occur as a migraine, tension-type headache, or cluster headache.

Treatment of a headache depends on the underlying cause but commonly involves pain medication. A headache is one of the most frequently experienced of all physical discomforts.

About half of adults have a headache in a given year. Tension headaches are the most common, followed by migraine headaches.

There are more than 200 types of headaches. Some are harmless and some are life-threatening. Headaches are broadly classified as “primary” or “secondary”. Primary headaches are benign, recurrent headaches not caused by an underlying disease or structural problems. For example, a migraine is a type of primary headache. While primary headaches may cause significant daily pain and disability, they are not dangerous. Secondary headaches are caused by an underlying disease, like an infection, head injury, vascular disorders brain bleeding, or tumours. Secondary headaches can be harmless or dangerous.

Gastrointestinal may cause headaches. The treatment of gastrointestinal disorders may lead to remission or improvement of headaches.

For chronic, unexplained headaches, keeping a headache diary can help track symptoms and identify triggers.

Some measures can help prevent headaches in children. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day, avoiding caffeine, getting enough and regular sleep, eating balanced meals at the proper times, and reducing stress and excess activities may prevent headaches.^[

When body temperature is higher than normal it’s fever.  An abnormal process could be occurring in the body.  Body temperature rise could be attributed to exercise, hot weather or common childhood immunizations.

A fever is not an illness by itself. It is a symptom that something is wrong in the body.  The cause nor the disease is not known as fever. It may be a bacterial or viral infection or a reaction from an allergy to medicine or food. Playing in the sun could also result in fever.

The body’s normal temperature ranges from 97.5°F to 98.9°F (36.4°C to 37.2°C). It tends to decrease in the morning and increase in the evening. High fevers could bring on seizures in children.

The other symptoms of fever are a Flushed face, Hot, dry skin, Low output of urine, or dark urine, Not interested in eating, Constipation or diarrhoea, Vomiting, Headache, Aching all over, Nausea

They are important when caring for babies, young children, and disabled people as they may not be able to express how they feel.

Fever can be diagnosed by taking the temperature with a thermometer.

A lukewarm bath may reduce the fever.

We should contact our Family Doctor anytime we are uncomfortable with the conditions of the fever, and also we should contact your healthcare any time the temperature spikes quickly or persists despite treatment.

Bacteriology is a branch of biology that studies the morphology, ecology, genetics and biochemistry of bacteria, as well as many other aspects related to them.  The identification, classification and characterization of bacterial species is a subdivision of microbiology. This is the study of bacteria and their relation to medicine. Identifying and characterizing bacteria associated with diseases led to advances in pathogenic bacteriology. This has led to many successful advances like effective vaccines, such as diphtheria and tetanus. Bacteriology has also provided the discovery of antibiotics. The connection of microorganisms to disease can be dated back to the nineteenth century when Robert Koch introduced the science of microorganisms to the medical field. He identified that bacteria was the cause of infectious diseases and the process of fermentation in diseases. Louis Pasteur developed techniques to produce vaccines. Both Koch and Pasteur were instrumental in improving antisepsis in medical treatment. The importance of bacteria was recognized as it led to the study of disease prevention and treatment of diseases by vaccines.