Persistent infections occur because the body is unable to clear the organism after the initial infection. Persistent infections are characterized by the continual presence of the infectious organism, often as latent infection with occasional recurrent relapses of active infection. There are some viruses that can maintain a persistent infection by infecting different cells of the body. Some viruses once acquired never leave the body. A typical example is the herpes virus, which tends to hide in nerves and become reactivated when specific circumstances arise. COUNT 5
QSN1 Why do persistent infections occur? ANS1 body is unable to clear the organism after the initial infection QSN2 What are persistent infections characterized by the continual presence of? ANS2 the infectious organism QSN3 How can some viruses main a persistent infection? ANS3 by infecting different cells of the body QSN4 What never leave the body when acquired? ANS4 Some viruses QSN5 Where does the herpes virus hide? ANS5 in nerves