Why do some viruses have a cure when others don't?

3284>Why is there a cure for the Flu and no cure for Aids, Herpes, etc.
Reply:Flu is a self-limiting disease. You get over the flu.





In terms of pharmaceuticals, the treatments for HIV and herpes have a much more profound impact on the course of the disease.
Reply:There is no cure for the flu. When you get it, it has to run it's course. Your facts are wrong on that. All those viruses can be treated, but there is no cure yet. They are woking on it.
Reply:a.) I don't think there's a cure for the flu...


b.) HIV is a much more complex virus than the cold, or other curable disease. I know genital herpes isn't curable because it spreads through human body contact, and not through bodily fluid.
Reply:because certain viruses can change its genetic sequence.


HIV-the virus that causes AIDS is a bunch of different viruses in one (so to speak). The flu has over 150 different strains as well as HCV.





HCV also mutates. It changes it's viron sequence. This is partly why medications for treatment don't work as well on those with specific genotypes. of course mode of transmission also can play a role in non-responders.





A person with HCV ends up having what we call "quasispecies" or genetically changed virons. This phenomenon is what causes certain viral infections to become chronic. (genes also play a role).





Last, there are so many types of viruses out there that it's impossible to tell what belongs in human and what doesn't. That is why research is always neccessary to find cures.
Reply:because viruses cannot be treated by antibiotics. unlike bacteria, viruses are hard to be "grown" on labs to find a cure. they are much more smaller and complicated than the other pathogens such as bacteria and fungi/yeast. AIDS on the other hand is caused by a retrovirus. these are the types that copy your DNA so it's difficult for your body to fight it and it spreads more rapidly. for now, there are few antivirals available such as EPIVIR that is ffective against HIV... herpes? i'm sure you've seen a few comercials about them. they help stop the outbreak but not fully cure it. 6 months.. then it's "say hello to herpes again". sweet.