Adenovirus belongs to the family Adenoviridae. This group of viruses was discovered in the 1950s and includes 6 genera and 47 species. Adenoviruses are spread like the common cold. The viruses can be spread from person to person via coughing or sneezing and close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hand. People may also become infected by touching something with adenovirus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes. For example, adenoviruses can be transferred to a doorknob when an infected person sneezes into his/her hands and then touches the doorknob before washing. Some adenoviruses can spread through an infected person’s stool, for example, during diaper changing.
For an airway infection it takes around 2 to 14 days for the symptoms to appear after exposure to the virus. The incubation period for intestinal infections is 3 to10 days.Those with an immature or weak immune system are more at risk of severe complications. This includes young children and infants, elderly, pregnant women and those with a suppressed immunity (HIV AIDS patients, those on cancer chemotherapy drugs or immunosuppressant drugs after organ transplants etc.).
Symptoms
- Common cold
- Sore throat (pharyngitis)
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Diarrhea
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- Fever
- Bladder inflammation or infection (cystitis)
- Inflammation of stomach and intestines (gastroenteritis)
Test options
A.I.I Panel : Acute intestinal Infections Panel
Learn more about Adenovirus
http://www.cdc.gov/adenovirus/
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8698
http://www.medicinenet.com/killer_cold_virus_adenovirus_infection_ad14/article.htm
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/adenovirus.html
