Adenovirus

Adenovirus is a group of viruses that cause infections in the respiratory tract, eyes, lungs, and digestive tract. This disease can affect anyone, but is more common in infants and toddlers.

In most cases, adenoviruses cause mild infections. However, adenoviruses can also cause serious infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems.

Currently, adenovirus is suspected as the cause of mysterious acute hepatitis. Mysterious acute hepatitis itself is hepatitis that attacks children under the age of 16. According to research, adenovirus was detected in 72% of 126 patients who had undergone examination.

Causes of Adenovirus

There are more than 100 types of adenoviruses. Of these, about 49 types can infect humans.

Adenovirus can cause infections in various parts of the body, such as the respiratory tract, digestive tract, and eyes. Some infectious diseases caused by adenovirus are:

• Cough and cold
• Croup
• Conjunctivitis
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Gastroenteritis
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Gastrointestinal tract infection
• Meningitis

Adenovirus is highly contagious. It can spread in several ways, namely:

• Inhaling droplets from someone with adenovirus infection when they sneeze or cough
• Touching an object that has been contaminated with the virus, then touching the nose, mouth, or eyes without washing hands
• Touching the feces of someone with adenovirus infection, for example when changing diapers

Adenovirus risk factors

Adenovirus can attack anyone. However, there are several factors that increase a person’s risk of being attacked by adenovirus, namely:

• Under 5 years old (toddlers)
• Having a weak immune system, for example because you have HIV/AIDS
• Just underwent an organ transplant
• Living or residing in crowded, slum and poorly sanitized environments

Adenovirus Symptoms

Symptoms of adenovirus infection usually appear 2–14 days after someone is exposed to the virus. Symptoms can vary, depending on the type of adenovirus and the disease caused by the virus, including:

1. Symptoms of cough and cold 

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Weak
• Runny nose or stuffy nose
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Hard to breathe

2. Symptoms of bronchitis and pneumonia

• Cough with phlegm
• Weak
• Hard to breathe
• Mild fever and chills
• Discomfort in the chest

3. Symptoms of infection in the digestive tract

• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Diarrhea

4. Symptoms of eye infection (conjunctivitis)

• Redness of the eyes
• Pain and a feeling of obstruction in the eye
• Sensitive to light
• Corneal opacities
• Visual impairment

Meanwhile, in patients with mysterious acute hepatitis, the initial symptoms that can arise are nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, and mild fever. If the condition worsens, the patient can also experience further symptoms such as:

• Urine is darker or concentrated in color like tea
• Yellowing of the eyes and skin
• Pale colored stool
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness

When to see a doctor

See a doctor immediately if you or your child experiences worsening symptoms of adenovirus infection, such as:

• Respiratory disorders

• Swelling in the eye area

• Fever that does not go down within a few days

• Signs of dehydration , such as dry mouth and decreased urination

Since adenovirus is currently suspected as the cause of mysterious acute hepatitis, take your child to the doctor immediately if he or she experiences early symptoms of the disease.

Mysterious acute hepatitis can get worse and cause further symptoms. Therefore, do not delay in taking your child to the doctor so that it can be treated immediately.

If your child experiences decreased consciousness, immediately take him to the emergency room to get help.

Diagnosis Adenovirus

To diagnose adenovirus, the doctor will ask questions about the patient’s symptoms and medical history. After that, the doctor will perform a complete physical examination.

To further confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will carry out several supporting examinations, namely:

• Blood and urine tests, to detect the presence of adenovirus by taking blood and urine samples.
• Stool examination , to determine the presence of adenovirus in the stool
• Antigen test, to detect the protein on the outermost part (antigen) of adenovirus.
• PCR test , to detect the presence of adenovirus in the body by examining samples of nasal mucus, throat, stool, or blood.
• Chest X-ray , to see the condition of the heart and lungs more clearly

To diagnose acute hepatitis, a doctor may perform a hepatitis virus serology test, to detect hepatitis A–E virus types.

Adenovirus Treatment

Generally, adenoviruses only cause mild infections and do not require special treatment. Treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms and preventing possible complications.Some of the treatment methods are:

Self care at home

In most cases, adenovirus can be treated with some self-care at home, such as:

• Get enough rest
• Drink plenty of water
• Consume nutritious and balanced food
• Using a nasal rinse​
• Using a humidifier
• Use moisturizer in the nose and mouth area

Treatment by a doctor

Although it generally causes mild infections, adenovirus can also cause severe infections. In this case, doctors can perform several treatments, such as:

• Administration of fluid infusion , to meet fluid intake needs
• Giving fever medication, such as paracetamol , to treat fever
• Providing supplemental oxygen, such as a nasal tube or oxygen mask, to assist breathing.
• Administration of antiviral drugs, such as ribavirin and cidofovir, to inhibit the development of the virus, especially in patients with weak immune systems.

Adenovirus Complications

If left untreated, adenovirus infection can cause several complications, namely:

• Chronic lung disease
• Severe infection
• Intussusception
• Bronchiectasis

Patients with weak immune systems or who have recently undergone organ transplants can also experience more severe complications. While in mysterious acute hepatitis, complications that can occur are liver damage to death.

Adenovirus Prevention

There are several ways that can be done to prevent adenovirus infection, namely:

• Wash your hands with soap and running water regularly. If there is no water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer .
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth before washing your hands.
• Avoid direct contact with people who are sick.
• Consume healthy and nutritionally balanced foods, and make sure the food is clean and cooked.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before processing or eating them.

If you experience symptoms similar to those of adenovirus infection, take the following steps to avoid spreading it to others:

• Do not leave the house if you are sick.
• Do not share eating and drinking utensils with others.
• Wear a mask, especially if there are other people around.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing and coughing. If there is no tissue, cover the mouth and nose with the fold of the elbow.
• Wash your hands regularly.

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