Viral load - can someone explain?

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Can someone with expertise explain viral load? I used to understand it as meaning how much virus an individual was carrying and shedding , i.e. how infectious they were to other people. But in recent days I've heard it described as meaning how much virus a person is exposed to, and used as an explanation for why doctors and nurses are getting the virus more than other people.
Which is correct? A doctor could catch it from just one patient, but if they treat one hundred patients does their susceptibility increase?

It's working for the sake of working even when it doesn't even make good sense for the economy we are told that our only benefit to society is through work. Even now people are flouting the rules to go to work and not being properly supported to stay at home. It's ridiculous. And NHS staff are encouraged to not come into work with cold or flu symptoms or d&v but also disciplined for taking sick days. We can't have it both ways

Wow. Thanks for this explanation.

@Squirrelfan is it this one ?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

Is the high viral load of specific importance to Covid19 ? Don't all viruses act this way ie higher load resulting in worse outcome for the infected ?

Or is it more significant because of Covid 19 transmitting before symptoms appear or while the infected person is asymptomatic ? Which I think is more unusual .If I understand correctly .

If you caught chicken pox from exposure to one person is it more likely to be mild case than if caught at a party where several children were already infected ?

Thanks peridito, no it was pink, and I finally found it on the BBC website under What are social distancing and isolation? I can't seem to attach it however. The one you've posted looks better!

@peridito

Some viruses do and some viruses don't. They never behave exactly the same but some behave Similarly. We don't fully know how covid 19 works yet but we can look at other viruses and what we DO know to try and predict the way it behaves and therefore what measures we can take.

Thanks Murky .

Glad you found it Squirrel

How do you isolate a symptomatic child though?
One parent surely had to stay with them to check they don't go down hill?

And what if there's one vulnerable shielded person in the same small house, would it not be impossible to contain rendering the in house isolation unessesary?

I haven't read the full thread, just the first page, sorry if this has already been asked.

If people with the virus get worse symptoms if they're exposed to more of it (heavier viral load) - doesn't that mean all the people in hospital are making each other more sick by their proximity to one another?

@Orangesandbananas

If they are not in the window between initial infection and the bodies immune response then no. Also hopefully 2m apart from anybody uninflected

@AnotherMurkyDay thanks so much.

I feel very reassured.

@Orangesandbananas

But they could well all be exposing it to the people caring for them if their PPE is inadequate

Thanks @AnotherMurkyDay

It feels like this would be tough but manageable in normal circumstances but almost impossible at the moment.