Adenovirus is currently receiving increased attention in international media.
This is because many people fall ill with colds and influenza during the winter, and because adenovirus can resemble both influenza and COVID-19.
This can create confusion when people seek medical care for fever and cough.
The American physician Eric Sachinwalla from Jefferson Health has explained that more cases are being seen at the moment.
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He points out that the virus is not new, but that it is easily overshadowed by the many other seasonal illnesses.
Symptoms of the virus
Adenovirus can present itself in several ways. In many people, it affects the respiratory tract, causing cough, fever, a runny nose, and a sore throat.
Some people also develop bronchitis or pneumonia.
In others, the virus affects the stomach and intestines, which can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
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In rare cases, the eyes can be affected, resulting in conjunctivitis.
Public Health Scotland states that there are around 50 different types of adenovirus, and that most cause mild symptoms.
What is important to know
Most people are infected early in life.
According to the National Institutes of Health, most children have had adenovirus before the age of ten without necessarily being aware of it.
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The virus accounts for a small proportion of respiratory infections in both children and adults.
There is no specific treatment. Eric Sachinwalla emphasizes that rest and fluids are the most important measures, and that fever often helps the body fight the infection.
For most people, the illness resolves on its own, but it can contribute to the overall strain on the healthcare system during the winter period.
Sources: LADbible, Public Health Scotland, and National Institutes of Health.
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