Common Human Viruses: Symptoms, Causes & Prevention

Here are some of the most common viruses that affect humans:

- Cold and Flu Viruses

- Influenza viruses: cause seasonal flu/influenza

- Rhinoviruses: a major cause of the common cold

- Human parainfluenza viruses: another cause of the common cold and croup

- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): causes respiratory tract infections

- Gastrointestinal Viruses

- Rotavirus: the leading cause of severe diarrhoea in children

- Norovirus: causes acute gastroenteritis (commonly known as "stomach flu" or "food poisoning")

- Hepatitis A, B, and C viruses: can cause liver infections

- Poliovirus: causes poliomyelitis (polio)

- Respiratory Viruses

- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) viruses: cause measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles)

- Varicella-zoster virus (VZV): causes chickenpox and shingles

- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV): linked to infectious mononucleosis, also known as "mono"

- Cytomegalovirus (CMV): a member of the herpesvirus family that can cause congenital infections in infants

- Neurological Viruses

- Rabies virus: causes rabies, a fatal disease of the central nervous system

- West Nile virus: can cause encephalitis and meningitis

- Japanese encephalitis virus: can cause encephalitis, a serious infection of the brain

- Tick-borne encephalitis virus: transmitted through ticks and causes inflammation of the brain

- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which the body's immune system is severely weakened, making it vulnerable to infections and certain cancers.