Vaccines, Antibiotics, and...?

Question

There are 3 ways of treating viruses, using vaccines and antibiotics is two of them. What is the third one? My teacher says it starts with "In". Any ideas?

ok, so some of you have told me that anitbiotics don't treate viruses...but i need to know what DOES! =(

Answer 1

Interferon can be used for treatment of some viral infections - most notably, it's used for treating hepatitis C in combination with ribavirin. Interferon is a VERY difficult drug to take so it's generally reserved for hepatitis C infections where there is evidence of ongoing liver inflammation.

Standard antibiotics kill bacteria and not viruses but recently, specific antiviral medications have been developed to counter viruses that are particularly troublesome. Some folks (perhaps your teacher is one of them) refer to these antiviral medications as "antibiotics" as well. It's probably better to refer to them as antivirals to avoid confusion. Some examples of antivirals include AZT, acyclovir, ganciclovir, etc.

Vaccines, of course, are a time-honored strategy for preventing viral infections in the first place. Interestingly, vaccines against bacterial infections are also quite common - diptheria, pertussis, pnemococcus, and meningococcus are some examples.

Answer 2

you are mistaken if you think creationists deny science. Think about it this way. If you came into your kitchen and found a glass of water spilled, there are many likely answers. If the window was open, maybe it was the wind. Or a mouse. Or someone else did it. If you live in NY, it would seem highly unlikely that an eagle flew through your window and knocked it over. In fact, scientifically - if there are no eagles in your region, this would seem unreasonable. Then consider that you actually were in the kitchen when it happened. You saw the eagle do it. You told your friends and they responded that your story is so unlikely they don't believe it. They bring all these reasons - good ones - why the possibility of it being an eagle is quite remote at best. And yet, you know that the eagle did it. Would that mean that for the rest of your life you would ignore all logic and likelihood because of the one time that something unlikely happened? The same is true about creation of the world. Looking at all the scientific evidence, you might see evolution and many other scientific principles. But we know that God created the world. How? that is another answer. But the point here is not that saying that God created the world means that all science is bunk. That is ridiculous. Rather all science is science and is valid except when you have specific knowledge contrary to it. Now - if you want to ask what "knowledge" there is of God creating the world - well that is another answer entirely.

Answer 3

Vaccines prevent not treat virus infection
Antibiotics work only on bacteria
There are a few (very few) anti-viral drugs that interfere with virus replication and these are the only mdicines that can treat a viral infection.

Your teacher is likely thinking about Interferon-gamma but is is rather dangerous to use, the reasons are a bit complex and beyond the scope of your question.

Answer 4

Vaccines generally are used to prevent viruses, not treat them. Antibiotics are for bacteria NOT viruses and I think the "in" word you are looking for is interferon.

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

Antibiotics do not treat viruses. The immune system helps to fight viruses. There are some anti-viral drugs that work similar to antibiotics, but they are different.

Answer 6

Vaccines is used for prevention. but antibiotic umm.... as far as i know it is anti bacterial not anti virus...