The emergence of Adenovirus (ADV) poses an additional challenge, attributed to climate change and environmental pollution.
Adenovirus is a common virus that can cause a range of cold and flu-like infections. Researchers have identified about 50 types of adenoviruses that can infect humans. Adenovirus infections occur throughout the year but peak in winter and early spring. Infections range from mild to severe, but serious illness rarely happens.
Adenoviruses are most common in children younger than five years old. The spread of adenoviruses in babies and young children occurs often in daycares. Babies and children in this setting come into close contact with one another. They’re also more likely to put objects in their mouths and less likely to wash their hands frequently.
The spread of adenoviruses in adults can occur in crowded environments. If you spend time in a dormitory or crowded places, you may be at a higher risk of contracting the virus. The virus also commonly spreads in hospitals and nursing homes. If the person has a weakened immune system, they are more likely to get seriously ill from an adenovirus infection. This includes people who’ve had stem cell transplants or organ transplants. It also includes people who have cancer or HIV/AIDS. If you have cardiac or respiratory disease, your chances of severe infection increase as well.
Adenoviruses spread from one infected person to another. These viruses can result in mild illness (such as a respiratory infection), or, less commonly, severe illness like meningitis.
Sick from exposure to an adenovirus are those with a weakened immune system, such as elders or young children, people with respiratory disorders such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and those with heart disease.
There are several common ways to become infected with adenovirus, such as close personal contact like touching or handshakes, coughing or sneezing, touching the nose, mouth, or eyes after contact with objects that an infected person has touched or after direct contact with a person infected with the virus, direct contact with an infected person’s stool such as when changing a diaper.
Adenoviruses are resistant to many types of cleaners and disinfectants and can live on inanimate objects for long periods. If there is an adenovirus case in your household or an outbreak in a facility such as a school or nursing home, it’s important to use a disinfectant known to kill adenoviruses, such as a bleach-based solution.
Late winter, spring, and early summer are the most common reasons for adenovirus infections, but they can occur anytime during the year. Children can spread adenoviruses in a few different ways, such as respiratory infections are spread when fluid from the mouth, throat, or lungs that contains the virus is ejected via coughing or sneezing on another person. Adenoviruses can be spread by touching objects contaminated by an adenovirus and then touching the nose, mouth, or eyes without washing one’s hands. Adenoviruses can live for many hours on toys, countertops, doorknobs, and other inanimate objects. Digestive tract infections are spread by oral-fecal transmission as well. Children ages 6 months to 2 years of age who are in childcare facilities regularly are the most likely to contract adenovirus infections. In children under age 5, adenovirus infections most commonly affect the digestive tract. By age 10, most children have had one or more infections caused by an adenovirus.
There are some common ways to help prevent getting ill from the virus: meticulous handwashing such as scrubbing with soap for at least 20 seconds, then rinsing with water as hot as can be tolerated, avoiding touching face, eyes, nose, or mouth, avoiding close contact with those who are ill, staying home when ill, covering the mouth during you cough or sneeze, and avoiding sharing cups or eating utensils and personal belongings.
Adenoviruses can be transmitted from person to person year-round, in people of all ages. They may cause various illnesses with a wide range of symptoms such as common cold and flu symptoms like fever or chills, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, runny or stuffy nose, body aches or muscle pain, and headache. Pneumonia symptoms are cough with yellow or greenish mucus production, fever with chills or sweating, shortness of breath, pain in the chest that is stabbing or sharp and worsens when breathing deep, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Conjunctivitis symptoms are irritation of the eyes, photophobia, watery discharge from the eyes, sensation of having a foreign body in the eye, corneal inflammation, and decreased vision.
Adenoviruses commonly cause several types of infections in children, including, respiratory conditions, conjunctivitis, inflammation and swelling in the area of the vocal cords, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Most commonly, children get respiratory conditions from adenoviruses (such as colds, croup, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia), but occasionally they can get infections of the digestive tract (gastroenteritis).
Rare or less common symptoms of adenovirus infections could include bladder infections or nervous system infections including frequent urination, burning or pain when urinating, and blood in the urine.
Usually, the healthcare provider does an examination, takes a history of the current symptoms, and makes a diagnosis based on this information. If an adenovirus infection causes a sore throat, it’s common for a strep test to be obtained to rule out other underlying causes of the infection. Special diagnostic tests can be done to detect and identify adenoviruses, but these tests are expensive. On the other hand, if a person is very ill, the healthcare provider may obtain samples from various regions of the body such as the eyes, throat, stool, blood, or urine to identify the presence of adenoviruses.
If a test is ordered to evaluate the underlying pathogen causing a respiratory infection, a specimen can be obtained by swabbing the back of the throat via the nose or the mouth. The swab is sent to the lab for testing. If a specimen is taken from the nose, the method of testing is referred to as a nasopharyngeal swab. This involves using a special cotton swab to collect a specimen inside both sides of the nose by swabbing for approximately 15 seconds.
When a lower respiratory infection, such as viral pneumonia, is suspected, the healthcare provider may ask for a sputum specimen. This involves coughing up some mucus for lab evaluation. A blood specimen could also be ordered to diagnose adenoviruses under some circumstances. If there is clinical evidence of conjunctivitis or a corneal eye infection, the healthcare provider may obtain a conjunctival swab specimen for lab evaluation.
There are no drugs that treat adenovirus, and no specific medical treatment can help clear the infection. Adenovirus can’t be treated with antibiotics since it is a virus and not a bacteria.
Most adenovirus infections aren’t serious and require minimal intervention to relieve symptoms and prevent complications, such as drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Most cases of adenovirus go away within a few days to a couple of weeks.
There are some things you can do to help your child feel better while preventing serious complications from the infection. These interventions depend on your child’s age, symptoms, and general health. Water, formula, breast milk, or electrolyte-containing fluids are recommended for rehydration for children. Avoid giving young children sugars, soda, juices, or sports drinks to rehydrate. A child who is unable to drink or hold down fluids is at risk for dehydration and may need to be hospitalized; in this instance, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider as soon as possible. If needed, intravenous fluids will be given via an IV line. The IV therapy will ensure your child has enough fluids and electrolytes to prevent severe complications, such as dehydration. If your child has diarrhea, consult with the healthcare provider about which types of foods are best. They also treat symptoms, such as inhalers to help open airways and improve the flow of oxygen in the lungs. Bronchodilators can also be given via a mini nebulizer. Administer supplemental oxygen if ordered by the healthcare provider. This can be given through a mask, nasal prongs, or an oxygen tent.
There is a vaccine for certain types of adenoviruses, but it is not given to the general population because it has not been adequately studied in those with weakened immune systems, infants, children, or females who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
There are some common ways to help prevent getting ill from the virus: meticulous handwashing such as scrubbing with soap for at least 20 seconds, then rinsing with water as hot as can be tolerated, avoiding touching face, eyes, nose, or mouth, avoiding close contact with those who are ill, staying home when ill, covering the mouth during you cough or sneeze, and avoiding sharing cups or eating utensils and personal belongings.
