2023-05-26 03:20:40
Children can easily become infected with the highly contagious adenovirus. But what does an adenovirus infection mean? Jakob Maske, press spokesman for the Federal Association of Pediatricians, explains to Bayerischer Rundfunk which symptoms occur in children in particular, what parents should do if their little ones become ill during and after the infection and how they can best protect them from becoming ill . Also more about the transmissibility of the virus, the duration of an infection and adenoviruses in general.
What are adenoviruses?
Adenoviruses belong to the Adenoviridae family. Only a fraction of the adenovirus species that occur can cause disease in humans. They are also referred to as human adenoviruses.
How are adenoviruses found?
“Adenovirus infections are widespread worldwide. Seasonal accumulations are not recognizable. It is not uncommon, especially in community facilities, for local accumulations to occur, even small epidemics,” writes das Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on its website. Sea Federal Center for Health Education (BzgA) the viruses can adhere to objects at room temperature for a few weeks and remain contagious over this time.
How are adenoviruses transmitted?
The adenoviruses are usually transmitted by smear, occasionally by droplet infection. Infection usually occurs via hands contaminated with the virus or objects, such as towels, to which the virus can adhere. Infection is also possible with inflammation of the eyes – if the sick person first touches his infected eyes with his hand and then gives another person the hand contaminated with the virus.
Can adults also become infected with adenoviruses?
Adenovirus infection is not a disease that only occurs in children. Adults can also become infected with the virus and become ill.
Which symptoms are typical in children and which can occur in general?
“Typical in children are actually the infections of the eyes, which are usually accompanied by reddening of the conjunctiva (conjunctiva) and also with mucus formation,” explains the pediatrician Maske to the BR.
Cold symptoms or so-called abdominal symptoms, i.e. abdominal pain and diarrhea, could also occur after an infection with adenoviruses, says Maske. The Hannover Medical School leads as possible clinical pictures nor inflammation of the liverthe brain, the urinary tract and the lungs and points out that in healthy adults “adenovirus infections usually have no or only mild symptoms”.
How dangerous is an adenovirus infection?
According to the mask, adenovirus infections in children are usually harmless and self-limiting, i.e. they heal by themselves. In severe immunosuppression, i.e. in people with a weakened or suppressed immune system according to RKI very rarely life-threatening, spreading infections with multiple organ involvement possible.
How long does an infection last?
According to Maske’s experience, infections due to adenoviruses “usually last about two weeks”. The incubation period, i.e. the time from infection to the appearance of the first symptoms, is five to twelve days for adenovirus conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the eyes – the disease most commonly caused by the virus – according to the RKI.
What can parents do for their children – during and after the infection?
For the Berlin pediatrician, the treatment of an adenovirus infection must be “purely symptomatic and dependent on the symptoms that are present”. That means, for example: pain and fever juices. In the case of so-called abdominal symptoms, i.e. abdominal pain and gastrointestinal complaints, parents should ensure that their children drink enough fluids. However, the youth doctor emphasizes: “As a rule, no medication has to be used.”
The doctor also recommends: “[…] of course, always healthy food and fresh air, also mild exercise, no sport, can be useful, so short walks outdoors.”
How can you protect yourself from infection? tips
The most important thing is hygiene measures such as washing hands, “so as not to spread the very contagious infection,” advises Maske. Also: Anyone who is ill should stay at home until the inflammation has subsided, according to the Federal Center for Health Education (BzgA). their website on the subject of infection protection as another tip to protect against adenovirus infection.
Is an adenovirus infection notifiable?
The health department only has to be reported if adenoviruses are detected in a laboratory test in the eye swab, the so-called conjunctival swab.
Are there currently many infections with adenoviruses in children and adolescents?
The pediatrician Jakob Maske cannot name an exact number of infections in children and adolescents caused by adenoviruses from his practice, since he and his colleagues “usually did not search for pathogens by, for example, swabs” in diseases caused by viruses . “But the feeling shows that these viruses are more common at the moment,” Maske told BR, adding: “At the beginning of the year we saw a large number of colds that were also caused by adenoviruses.”
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