8.5 Viral disease affecting other organs and systems

 

Eye diseases - Many infants viral diseases can involve conjunctivitis (Inflammation of the conjunctiva which is the transparent membrane covering the sclera). It leads to redness, discomfort and discharges from the eye and is commonly termed as pink eye condition. Sometime it is also associated with cornea (kerato-conjunctivitis). Herpes simplex virus is the most common form of virus associated with this condition. Many other kind of eye disorder including cataract and glaucoma are associated with rubella virus and cytomegalovirus infection.

 

Viral Hepatitis - Inflammation of the liver accompanying damage of the hepatocytes (liver cells) is called as hepatitis. Besides Hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, E, and G which infect the liver as the primary organ other viruses can also cause hepatitis such as herpes and hemorrhagic fever viruses. Symptoms include jaundice (yellowing of the skin caused by accumulation of bilirubin in the blood), and flu-like symptoms. The disease may become chronic depending on the infectious agent and terminally leads to cirrhosis (fibrosis of the liver tissue).

 

Viral arthritis - Characterized by stiffness in the joint accompanied by pain, fever, and myositis (inflammation of muscle tissue). The major causative agents are flaviviruses, togaviruses, and bunyaviruses.

 

Hemorrhagic fever - Symptoms include widespread hemorrhages from the epithelial tissue including eyes, ears, nose, and gastrointestinal tract. Ebola, yellow fever virus, Hantavirus, Lassa fever virus, and Marburg virus are the common cause of viral hemorrhagic fever. Severe damage of the internal organs is often associated with viral hemorrhagic fever. Ebola and Yellow fever virus can cause severe damage to the hepatocytes.

 

Chronic fatigue syndrome - There is no such evidence of any virus to be associated with this condition. The disease is characterized by extreme fatigue and is most common following the infection of CMV, EBV, enteroviruses, and HTLV.

 

Viral carditis-myocarditis - Characterized by inflammation of the heart muscles. The disease is often associated with certain enteroviruses (a family of picornaviruses) such as coxsackie B virus. The infections usually reoccurs leading to permanent myocardial damage, enlargement of the heart, or congestive heart failure.