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Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition

Adenovirus infections

by Krisha McCoy

Category: Diseases and conditions

Anatomy or system affected: Eyes, gastrointestinal system, intestines, lungs, respiratory system, urinary system

Definition

Adenovirus infections are highly contagious infections caused by a virus. The infections can happen in the respiratory tract, the eyes, the intestines, and the urinary tract.

Causes

Adenoviruses, which often are the cause of the common cold, also cause a number of other types of infections. Adenoviruses can be spread through exposure to a sneeze or cough of an infected person, exposure to fecal contamination (for example, water supplies and poor hygiene), eating food contaminated by houseflies, person-to-person contact, handling an object that was exposed to an infected person, and swimming in contaminated lakes and pools.

Risk Factors

Children, especially young children, are at special risk of developing an adenovirus infection.

Symptoms

Symptoms of adenovirus infection depend on where the infection occurs and may include fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, runny nose, cough, swollen lymph nodes, middle-ear infection, lower respiratory problems, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, abdominal cramps, frequent urination, conjunctivitis, red eyes, keratoconjunctivitis (corneal inflammation), and burning, pain, or blood in the urine.

Screening and Diagnosis

Depending on the type of infection that is suspected, samples may be taken from the patient and then sent to a lab. The samples may be mucus, stool, blood, or urine.

Treatment and Therapy

Treatment options include the management of symptoms. The infection will usually end on its own. Steps that might help relieve these symptoms include getting extra rest, drinking increased amounts of fluids, using a humidifier, and taking acetaminophen or other over-the-counter medications. For conjunctivitis, the doctor might recommend using warm compresses, or the doctor could recommend eye ointments or drops. For severe diarrhea or vomiting, fluids may need to be given by IV. This will prevent dehydration.

A compromised or weak immune system can lead to a more serious infection. In this case, a doctor may need to administer certain medicines.

Prevention and Outcomes

The best way to prevent adenovirus infection is to avoid contact with infected persons; to practice good hygiene, including frequent handwashing and cleaning of surfaces (such as toys and counter tops); and to keep swimming pools adequately chlorinated, which will help prevent outbreaks of adenovirus infection associated with swimming pools.

Further Reading

1 

“Adenoviruses.” CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Apr. 2015, www.cdc.gov/adenovirus/. Accessed 7 Nov. 2016.

2 

Foy, H. M. “Adenoviruses.” In Viral Infections in Humans: Epidemiology and Control, edited by A. Evans and R. Kaslow. 4th ed. New York: Plenum, 1997.

3 

Gray, G. C. “Adenovirus Transmission Worthy of Our Attention.” Journal of Infectious Diseases 194 (July, 2006): 871-873.

4 

Horwitz, M. S. “Adenoviruses.” In Fields’ Virology, edited by David M. Knipe and Peter M. Howley. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007.

5 

Nemours Foundation. “Infections: Adenovirus.” Available at http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/adenovirus.html.

6 

Pickering, Larry K., et al., eds. Red Book: 2009 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 28th ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009.

Web Sites of Interest

About Kids Health

http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca

American Academy of Pediatrics

http://www.healthychildren.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov

See also: Adenoviridae; Adenovirus vaccine; Bronchiolitis; Bronchitis; Children and infectious disease; Common cold; Conjunctivitis; Croup; Enteritis; Infection; Influenza; Norovirus infection; Pneumonia; Respiratory syncytial virus infections; Rotavirus infection; Travelers’ diarrhea; Viral infections.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
McCoy, Krisha. "Adenovirus Infections." Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition, edited by H. Bradford Hawley, Salem Press, 2020. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Infect2e_0017.
APA 7th
McCoy, K. (2020). Adenovirus infections. In H. B. Hawley (Ed.), Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
McCoy, Krisha. "Adenovirus Infections." Edited by H. Bradford Hawley. Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2020. Accessed September 16, 2025. online.salempress.com.