A significant rise in adenovirus infections is being reported across the globe, prompting health experts to urge public awareness of the illness's signs and transmission methods.
What are the symptoms of adenovirus?
Medical professionals note that the virus often presents in a manner similar to Coronavirus or seasonal flu. The most common indicators include fever, a sore throat, and frequent sneezing.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a comprehensive list of associated conditions. The primary symptoms encompass:
- Common cold or flu-like symptoms
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Acute bronchitis (airway inflammation, sometimes called a "chest cold")
- Pneumonia (lung infection)
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- Acute gastroenteritis (stomach or intestine inflammation causing diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain)
Less frequently, the virus can lead to bladder inflammation or infection and neurologic diseases affecting the brain and spinal cord.
How contagious is it and what should you do?
The illness spreads easily through close personal contact, such as handshakes, and through the air via coughing and sneezing. Dr Eric Sachinwalla, an infectious disease specialist based in the United States, has emphasised the critical need for individuals experiencing symptoms to isolate.
"It’s pretty contagious because it’s heartier than other viruses – soap and water, or everyday disinfectant, won’t kill it, so it tends to live in the environment longer," Dr Sachinwalla explained. He stressed that symptoms could signal adenovirus or another contagious disease, making isolation a responsible step.
Is there a treatment for adenovirus?
Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment designed to cure adenovirus infections. Management focuses on relieving symptoms and supporting recovery.
Medical advice, as reported, recommends rest, plenty of fluids, and over-the-counter pain or fever-reducing medicines. However, these methods are for symptom management and should not be considered a cure for the underlying viral infection.
While current signs are generally described as mild, the global increase in cases underscores the importance of vigilance, early self-isolation upon symptom onset, and practising good respiratory hygiene to limit further transmission.
