Antiviral drugs are compounds that are used to prevent or treat viral infections, via the disruption of an infectious mechanism used by the virus, or to treat the symptoms of an infection.

Different types of antiviral drugs have different modes of operation. For example, acyclovir is a drug that is used to treat the symptoms of the infections arising from the herpes virus family. Such infection includes lesions on the genitals, oral region, or in the brain. Acyclovir is also an antiviral agent in the treatment of chickenpox in children and adults, and shingles in adults caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus after a period of latency. Shingles symptoms can also be treated by the administration of valacyclovir and famciclovir.

Eye infections caused by cytomegalovirus can be treated with the antiviral agent known as ganciclovir. The drug acts to lessen the further development and...