Final answer:
Acute viruses cause rapid but short-lived diseases, persistent/chronic viruses lead to long-term conditions, and latent viruses can remain dormant and reactivate later.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences Between Acute, Persistent/Chronic, and Latent Viruses
Acute viruses cause diseases that have a rapid onset and are short in duration. Infections like the common cold and influenza are examples of acute viral diseases, characterized by symptoms that worsen quickly but usually resolve after the immune system eliminates the virus from the body.
Persistent or chronic viruses, such as Hepatitis C and HIV, are not cleared by the immune system and can cause long-term recurring or persistent symptoms. These infections can be ongoing, with the virus being continuously present in the body.
Latent viruses are capable of entering a dormant state within the host's cells after an initial acute infection. They do not actively replicate during this dormancy but can reactivate under certain conditions. Examples of latent viral infections are herpes simplex virus, which causes oral and genital herpes, and varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles.
In summary, acute viruses lead to short-term illnesses, persistent/chronic viruses cause ongoing diseases, and latent viruses can hide in the body and reactivate later on.