Antiviral medications work differently from antibiotics primarily because they target viruses, which are structurally and functionally different from bacteria. Antivirals interfere with various stages of a virus's life cycle to stop the virus from replicating and spreading. They may:
- Prevent viruses from entering or attaching to host cells.
- Trick viruses by mimicking DNA or RNA components to inhibit viral replication.
- Inhibit viral enzymes necessary for virus assembly and maturation.
- Block viruses from exiting infected cells, reducing spread.
- Boost the immune response against viruses.
In contrast, antibiotics target bacteria by killing them or preventing their growth. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses because bacteria and viruses have different biological structures and replication methods. While antibiotics work outside of cells where bacteria reproduce, antivirals must work inside host cells where viruses replicate. Antivirals usually target specific viruses and reduce symptoms or duration of viral infections but do not necessarily cure chronic viral infections like HIV. In summary, antibiotics kill or inhibit bacteria, while antivirals inhibit viral replication mechanisms inside host cells, making their approaches to treating infections fundamentally different.
