ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Antiviral drug

An antiviral drug is like a superhero medicine that helps the body fight against viruses that make us sick. Just like how a superhero can save a city from a dangerous villain, antiviral drugs can help our bodies defeat viruses that try to attack our cells.

The viruses are very tiny things that can make us ill. They are like little monsters that can get into our body, and reproduce more and more until we become sick. Antiviral drugs can target these monsters, making them less strong or even killing them, stopping them from growing and spreading to other parts of our bodies.

It's true that our body has its own way to fight against viruses by using the immune system. Like a shield, the immune system protects our body from infections, diseases and viruses. However, sometimes the immune system is not strong enough to win, so in that case, antiviral drugs can come to help.

Scientists develop antiviral drugs to help stop the viruses from making us ill. The drugs aren't like ordinary medicines. They can't make us feel better directly. Instead, they weaken or destroy viruses, and help the body to clear them out of our system faster.

But like all medicines, antiviral drugs can have side effects, and you can't just ask your doctor for them every time you have a cold. They are only given under certain circumstances, like when you have a specific virus that needs to be treated, and depending on many other factors that will be considered by the medical professionals.

In summary, antiviral drugs are like special medicines that help the body fight against viruses that make us sick by weakening or destroying them. They are developed for specific viruses and are used only under medical supervision when required.