How does your body stop viral infections?

Answer 1

By the action of the immune system. The body makes a pattern of the virus to use to develop antibodies against the specific antigen (virus particle) to disable the ability of the pathogen to attach to and infect the host cells. Once the body has made the antibodies the first time, the pattern is "remembered". Then when more of the same (or very similar) viruses are encountered subsequently, the body is able to very quickly respond to the known virus and produce more of the perfect antibodies to quickly disable the virus and usually prevent illness before you even know you have been infected. A flu shot is how we give the pattern to the immune system in advance, so it is ready to jump into action as soon as an invading virus is identified that has been previously encountered.

Answer 2

A division of your immune system called cell mediated immunity is charged with stopping viral infections. The main actors of that are called cytotoxic T cells who, when they encounter a cell that is displaying viral antigens on its surface, binds to the cell and releases toxic substances called perforins and granzymes that destroy and digest the viral infected cell.

Answer 3

The body stops viral infections by producing antibodies that specifically target and neutralize the virus. Immune cells such as T cells and B cells also play a role in identifying and eliminating infected cells. Additionally, fever can help limit viral replication by creating an environment that is less favorable for the virus to reproduce.