Upper respiratory tract infections- Adenovirus

Question 1

Distinguished from pneumonia by ….

Answer 1

Symptoms but not signs (e.g. no chest crackles)

Question 2

Adenovirus’ most commonly cause respiratory illness such as

Answer 2

Common cold

Croup

Pneumonia

Bronchitis

Question 3

Other infections adenovirus can cause

Answer 3

• Ocular infections
  
  • Follicular conjunctivitis
  • Keratoconjunctivitis
• Respiratory infections
  
  • Acute febrile pharyngitis
  • Pharyngoconjunctival fever
  • Acute respiratory disease
  • Viral pneumonia
• GI infections
  
  • Infantile gastroenteritis
• UTI
  
  • Haemorrhagic cystitis

Question 4

patient risk factors

Answer 4

weakened immune system

Question 5

pathogen

Answer 5

adenovirus

Medium sized, non-enveloped viruses with icosahedral nucleocapsid containing dsDNA

Question 6

Patient symptoms

Answer 6

• Common cold
• Sore throat
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Diarrhoea
• Conjunctivitis

Question 7

Mechanism of infection

Answer 7

Spread via aerosol (coughing and sneezing)

Touching something with adenovirus on it and touching their mouth, nose or eyes

Question 8

managemetn of infection: diagnosis

Answer 8

Identification via molecular mechanisms

Antigen detection- ELISA

PCR

Virus isolate

Serolgy

Question 9

Treatment

Answer 9

no specific treatment

• Most adenovirus infections are mild and don’t require medical care
• Treatment involves treating symptoms and complication

Question 10

if severe adenovirus infection in immunocompromised host

Answer 10

cidofovir can be given

Question 11

Outcome of infection

Answer 11

• Most infections last from a few days to a week or two
• Severe infection last longer with lingering symptoms such as a cough
• Can cause death in immunocompromised