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Virologist
When it comes to medicine, not everyone knows who a virologist is and what he is. A virologist is a specialist who studies the viruses, the smallest intracellular parasites that cause diseases in plants, animals and humans.
Virologists mainly work in laboratories where modern equipment is installed, which allows observing biochemical, biophysical and radiobiological processes. In their arsenal there are attributes such as electron microscopy and various techniques for computing. Also, the virologist's workplace may be a vivarium (this is an office or a department at a medical and biological institution), an experimental station, polygons that organize virological expeditions.
When should I go to a virologist?
Very often the patient himself can determine that he has symptoms, most likely a viral disease. When the first signs appear, it is necessary to make an appointment for a consultation with a virologist.
When should I go to a virologist? Here are some symptoms that should not be ignored:
- If you have a fever;
- The appearance of various eruptions on the mucous membrane and skin;
- Frequent headache;
- The onset of pain in the muscles;
- Insomnia;
- Stomach upset (diarrhea);
- Sharp mood swings (from depression to emotional arousal);
- Dryness in the oral cavity;
- Pain in the lymph nodes;
- Skin yellow and sclera (protein around the lens of the eye).
It is very important to seek the advice of a virologist if you were in some of the exotic countries, and when you return, you have one of the symptoms listed above.
What tests should I take when I visit a virologist?
Also, the question is often: Which tests do you need to pass to the virologist?
Here are the main ones:
- HIV annt-HІV 1/2;
- Herpes simplex virus (anty-HSV 1 type ІgG, annt-HSV 2 type ІgG, annt-HSV 1,2 type ІgG, anthi-HSV 1,2 type ІgM, annti-HSV 6 type ІgG);
- Rubella virus (anti- Rubella IgG, anti- Rubella IgM);
- Candidiasis (thrush) - (Antibodies to the Candida IgG);
- Chicken pox virus (anti- VZV ІgG, anti- VZV ІgM);
- Virus Epstein-Barr (anty-EBV-VCA IgG, anti-EBV-VCA IgM, anth-EBV-EBNA IgG, annt-EBV-EA IgG (quantities));
- Hepatitis A (HAV);
- Hepatitis B (HBV);
- Hepatitis C (HCV);
- Hepatitis D (HDV);
- Hepatitis G (HGV).
What diagnostic methods does the virologist use?
At the virologist's reception, the patient's entire medical history is collected, a thorough examination of the patient is made, and a list of all necessary tests is written out.
The virologist usually spends:
- Puncture, scintillating (blind) liver biopsy is a diagnostic procedure by which a tissue fragment from the liver is obtained. Further research is carried out under a microscope.
- Puncture scintillation (targeted) liver biopsy;
- Laparoscopic examination of the liver is a more complex instrumental diagnosis.
What does the virologist do?
What does the virologist do, that his profession is considered much needed? A virologist can work in one of the following areas:
- studies in detail such sciences as molecular biology and genetics, physics and chemistry of macromolecules;
- to study medicine and pharmacology, as well as to fight diseases by obtaining antiviral vaccines.
The main duties of the virologist are:
- carry out various types of laboratory virological studies;
- ensure the correct use of analytical and diagnostic methods;
- to participate in the development and introduction into medicine of new methods of research and equipment;
- obligatory consultation of doctors of other directions concerning virology;
- making recommendations on such rules as collection and delivery of materials to the laboratory for viruses;
- participates in the interpretation of the results of laboratory studies;
- implementation of activities related to the conduct of internal laboratory and external monitoring of the quality of the study;
- monitoring the correctness of diagnostic procedures, the use of equipment, reactive substances, safety rules.
What diseases does the virologist treat?
Also very often the question arises, what diseases the virologist treats?
The main boleznam that enter into the competence of this specialist is:
- Rabies;
- Warts;
- Spring-summer tick-borne encephalitis;
- Herpes virus;
- Rubella virus;
- Flu;
- Hepatitis A, B, C, D, G;
- Infectious jaundice;
- Measles;
- Smallpox;
- Papillomavirus (the main symptom is the growth and change of skin tissues);
- Epidemic parotitis (infectious disease, acute nature, which affects the glandular organs).
From the list given, it is possible to make a platoon that a virologist treats diseases that are caused by an infection and whose main pathogens are viruses.
Advices of a virologist
If we consider the advice of a virologist, who warns against viral diseases that are transmitted sexually, and so reduce the risk of contracting, are as follows:
- Take all precautions regarding sexual intercourse. This will help prevent infection of a viral infection, such as genital herpes.
- Practice safe sex - confidence in a partner and in the state of his health, is one of the main factors helping to reduce the risk of the disease.
- It is recommended to use a condom during intercourse. It protects well from diseases that are transmitted sexually, especially infectious.
Use precautionary measures, and then you will not need a virologist!
Medical expert editor
Portnov Alexey Alexandrovich
Education: Kiev National Medical University. A.A. Bogomolets, Specialty - "General Medicine"
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