Common adenovirus has many subtypes
DEAR DOCTOR: I’ve been hearing about adenovirus, which is often mistaken as the flu. How can you tell the difference? And is it as serious as the flu?
DEAR READER: Viruses are complex and ubiquitous. They cause a host of illnesses, with the common cold alone blamed on more than 200 identified subtypes of virus and many more that are still unidentified. One main group of viruses is adenovirus.
Adenovirus got its name because it was first isolated in the adenoids, although this isn’t the only place it’s found. More than 60 types of adenovirus exist, with some causing much different symptoms than others.
Adenoviruses most commonly cause upper-respiratory symptoms. These include inflammation of the throat, leading to a sore throat, and swelling of the membranes in the nose, leading to runny nose and nasal congestion. Such symptoms are often accompanied by headache, fever, fatigue, muscle pain and stomach pain. Adenovirus also can lead to conjunctivitis, laryngitis, bronchitis and
even pneumonia.
Adenovirus is a resilient virus. It can survive for long periods on environmental surfaces and — though bleach, formaldehyde and heat can inactivate it — the virus is resistant to many disinfectants. It can be transmitted through respiratory droplets spread by sneezing, coughing or contact with secretions. Adenovirus is also shed in the stool for many weeks after an acute infection. Without proper handwashing by all parties, the virus can then be taken in orally by another individual.
Because adenovirus is easily transmissible, it’s associated with outbreaks of infection in day-care settings and among military recruits. In fact, military recruits are now vaccinated against adenovirus, which has decreased their rate of infection.
Yes, many of the symptoms are similar to influenza, especially in young children. However, influenza is a much deadlier virus, especially among older individuals. Adenovirus doesn’t usually lead to the intensity of sickness and the death rates seen with flu, but neither illness should be taken lightly.