There are many respiratory conditions that cause fever and severe runny nose. Quite often, such symptoms are caused by an adenovirus infection.
What it is?
Acute respiratory illness, accompanied by the appearance of a profuse rhinitis and proceeding with symptoms of fever, is called adenovirus infection. The source of the disease is adenoviruses.
Currently, there are about 50 different subspecies. They are very small in size, which facilitates their easy penetration from a sick child to a healthy one. In the environment, adenoviruses survive perfectly. Even sub-zero air temperature does not have a detrimental effect on them. Only when boiled do they die in a few seconds.
How can you get sick?
There is no innate immunity to adenovirus infection. This makes babies easily susceptible to infection. Babies of the first 5-7 months of life get sick much less often. This is due to the presence of passive immunity in them, received from the mother as a result of breastfeeding.
A baby over a year old can easily become infected. Adenoviruses enter the child's body through the upper respiratory tract, and also, in some cases, through food. The source of infection is any adult or child who has had the infection.
After illness, immunity is usually not formed. This leads to frequent and repeated cases of the disease in the subsequent.
Outbreaks of adenovirus infection are recorded, as a rule, in the cold season. Boys and girls can be infected equally often. Mostly children 3-7 years old are infected. At an older age, much less cases of adenovirus infection are recorded. Some scientists explain this by the fact that after multiple infections with the same infection, post-infectious immunity is formed in babies.
Entering the body during respiration, adenoviruses quickly settle on epithelial cells. Within a few hours, their number increases many times. In some cases, the primary lesion is the intestine. Viruses get there with food. With the blood flow, they rapidly spread throughout the body, getting into almost all internal organs.
In a day, the viruses reach the lymph nodes. They can settle there and exert their negative toxic effects. This weakens the immune system somewhat. Usually viruses die within 18-22 hours after active reproduction. However, if untreated, new viral generations are formed that support inflammation.
The affected epithelium of the upper respiratory tract, conjunctiva, the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and oropharynx begin to function poorly. A strong inflammatory process leads to the development of adverse symptoms. They bring the baby expressed discomfort, and also significantly worsen his general well-being.
A high concentration of viruses in the blood leads to their rapid penetration into various organs. If treatment is not provided and the course of the disease is severe, a sick child often has various complications. In this case, the lungs, bronchi, and in some situations even the kidneys and liver are affected.
Incubation period
From the moment the virus enters the body until the first adverse symptoms appear, it usually lasts 1-2 days. However, in some cases, this period can extend even up to a week. This is due to the initially different levels of immunity in babies. In infants, the incubation period may even be 2 weeks.
Usually at this time the child is not worried about anything, he leads a usual way of life. Only a few children show some behavior change. They become more lethargic, play less with toys, often have a bad mood or loss of appetite.
Symptoms
The incubation period ends with the first signs of adenovirus infection. They can manifest themselves in different ways. Symptoms usually increase markedly within 1–2 days.
The infectious disease doctor will tell us everything about adenovirus infection in the next video.
The clinical manifestations of adenovirus infection include:
Temperature rise. It usually rises to 37-38 degrees. Only in severely weakened babies or with a severe course of the disease, it increases to 39. In some cases, the disease can be without fever. In this case, additional diagnostics are required.
Severe coryza. It is caused by inflammation of the mucous membrane that leads to swelling of the nose. The discharge is profuse, slimy. Most often they are transparent or with a yellowish tinge. When a secondary bacterial infection is attached in a baby, the discharge becomes green or bright yellow.
Redness in the pharynx. The mucous membrane of the oropharynx is quickly involved in the inflammatory process. This leads to loosening and severe redness. Such a wound surface becomes a favorable environment for the development and growth of pathogens.
Headache and severe general weakness... They are manifestations of intoxication. Viral toxins have a negative effect on all organs. This leads to the appearance of intoxication. The headache usually worsens with a very high body temperature.
Muscle pain. They occur almost throughout the body. The severity of pain depends on the severity of the disease.
Abdominal discomfort with the development of nausea and vomiting. These symptoms occur mainly with the initial ingestion of viruses with food. Vomiting is most often single, in small quantities.
Deterioration of health. Babies become very lethargic, may cry or whine. Their appetite is markedly reduced or completely absent. Children become more sleepy, do not want to play, try to spend more time in the crib.
Conjunctivitis. Manifested by severe lacrimation and redness of the eyes. The discharge is usually cloudy with a slight yellow tinge. With adenovirus infection, both eyes are affected. When a secondary bacterial infection is attached, the discharge from the eyes becomes purulent.
Increased cervical lymph nodes. When feeling them, you can identify dense, enlarged and tightly welded round formations to the skin. Such examination and palpation does not cause pain in the baby. In severe cases or in very weak babies, inflamed lymph nodes become visible even from the side.
Kinds
All variants of adenovirus infections should be divided into several categories. Basically, doctors use classifications, which imply the isolation of infections by clinical forms, as well as by severity.
Depending on the nature of the manifestations, adenovirus infection can occur in the form of:
Tonsillopharyngitis. In this case, the pharynx and oropharynx are mainly affected. The surface of the tonsils becomes bumpy and loosened. Babies complain of pain when swallowing. In infants, appetite is greatly reduced. They may even refuse to breastfeed. Tonsils are enlarged and painful.
Pharyngoconjunctival fever... This form of the disease is characterized by a predominant lesion of the eyes and throat. The inflammatory process leads to severe tearing and redness. It is difficult for babies to swallow food. Hot or cold food can increase the pain.
Mesenteric lymphadenitis. In babies, the stomach becomes very swollen and even somewhat tense, it hurts. In some cases, vomiting and severe nausea occur. Often, doctors have to exclude even surgical pathology, since diseases have similar symptoms.
Catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. The most frequent variant of the course of the disease. It is characterized by the appearance of a severe rhinitis and impaired nasal breathing. In case of untimely treatment, a barking cough joins. This indicates the involvement of the bronchi in the inflammatory process with the development of tracheobronchitis.
Keratoconjunctivitis. This variant of the disease is the most rare. In addition to inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea, the baby no longer has any other damage. Symptoms can be pronounced or mild. To establish a diagnosis, doctors resort to prescribing additional examinations.
In terms of severity, adenovirus infection can be:
easy. It is characterized by mild symptoms. The temperature reaches 37-37.5 degrees. Symptoms of intoxication are insignificant. Adverse manifestations of the disease pass quickly. The child recovers completely after a week;
moderately severe. It is accompanied by more pronounced symptoms of intoxication. The baby develops a fever or chills. The body temperature rises to 38 degrees. The course of the disease is more protracted. Complications may develop;
heavy. The child's condition suffers greatly. The disease threatens with complications and can lead to adverse consequences. Symptoms of bronchitis are common, and the spleen and liver are enlarged. Treatment is carried out in a hospital setting.
How does the disease proceed in newborns and infants?
Babies in the first months of life are relatively rarely sick with adenovirus infection. This is due to the presence of protective antibodies received from the mother during breastfeeding. Such protection is able to protect the child only for the period of attachment to the breast. After the abolition of such feeding, after a few months, passive immunity disappears.
A nursing baby can get sick as easily as any other. Usually, the smallest particles of viruses enter the child's body along with the air. Babies may have a longer course of the disease. The incubation period is usually 5-7 days.
After its completion, the child develops a moderate runny nose, the temperature rises, and a slight cough begins. The general condition of babies changes. They do not attach well to the breast due to decreased appetite. Some children sleep more, they may be capricious and often ask for their arms.
Diagnostics
Usually, only the presence of a certain set of clinical symptoms is sufficient to establish a diagnosis. During outbreaks of disease, it is quite simple to define the disease. However, in some cases, auxiliary diagnostic methods are required, since the disease has similar manifestations with influenza or other acute respiratory infections.
The basic analysis that allows you to suspect a viral cause of the disease is a complete blood count. With adenovirus infection, a moderate increase in the total number of leukocytes is observed, ESR is accelerated, and changes in the leukocyte formula are also visible. The total lymphocyte count may rise.
To accurately identify the pathogen, you can conduct a microscopic examination of the discharge from the nose or oropharynx. In some cases, bacterial sowing is carried out with the determination of sensitivity to phages. Such a study helps doctors to carry out an accurate differential diagnosis of the disease and also prescribe the correct treatment.
Complications and consequences
Most cases of adenovirus infection are mild. After 7-10 days from the moment of the first onset of symptoms, the disease completely disappears. For some time, only a minor residual rhinitis may disturb the baby. But this symptom also disappears completely after 2 weeks.
If the child has concomitant chronic diseases, then the course of the disease may not always be easy. In such cases, adverse complications usually develop. Quite often, when secondary bacterial flora is attached, inflammation passes to the lungs and bronchi. In this case, bronchitis or even pneumonia may develop.
To draw up the correct treatment tactics, doctors use clinical guidelines. These medical manuals contain all the necessary algorithm of actions when detecting the first signs of adenovirus infection in a child.
It is worth treating an adenovirus infection immediately after the first clinical symptoms appear. During the prescribed therapy, the baby will quickly recover.
Treatment of complications is carried out only in a hospital setting. Severe pneumonia is accompanied by symptoms of respiratory distress. In very weak babies, as a result of severe inflammation, even sepsis can occur. However, this is extremely rare.
In infants, adenovirus infection often causes complications in the form of otitis media. Viral otitis media is accompanied by hearing loss and impaired sound perception. Medicinal drops are used to treat this condition. This complication usually goes away in 10-14 days.
Treatment
It is worth treating an adenovirus infection immediately after the first clinical symptoms appear. During the prescribed therapy, the baby will quickly recover.
The following means and methods are used to treat the disease:
Proper nutritious nutrition. Helps keep the immune system working well. The child should eat at least 5-6 times a day. During illness, protein foods should be included in the children's diet. Meat, poultry, fish and fresh dairy products are excellent sources of protein. These products are needed by the child's body to strengthen the immune system and a quick recovery.
Warm, abundant drink. To remove viral toxins from the body, the baby must necessarily receive at least a liter of fluid per day. Babies should be additionally drunk with boiled water cooled to room temperature. For older kids, fruit and fruit juices, fruit drinks, as well as homemade compotes are well suited.
Daily regime. In order for the baby to have the strength to cope with the infection, he must have regular and high-quality sleep. The duration of night sleep during illness is 8-9 hours. During the day, the baby should also rest. Typically, daytime rest is 2.5-3 hours.
Medications. They help to eliminate coughs, normalize temperature, and also cope with uncomfortable catarrhal symptoms. To eliminate the common cold, special nasal drops are used. When the secondary bacterial flora is attached, antibiotics are required.
Vitamin therapy. During an exacerbation of the disease, babies are prescribed multivitamin complexes with an increased content of ascorbic acid or vitamin C. This substance helps to cope with viruses and activates the cells of the immune system.
Ventilation of premises. Given the ability of viruses to survive well in the external environment, the nursery should be regularly ventilated. This will help to significantly reduce the concentration of pathogenic microbes in the air. Airing should be carried out at least 3-4 times a day, usually 15-20 minutes.
Disinfection of toys and all objects with which the child often comes into contact. When the first signs of infection appear, all children's things must be washed under hot water with a special antibacterial detergent. This treatment will help prevent further spread of the infection.
What drugs are used for treatment?
Doctors prescribe various medications to help eliminate all adverse symptoms. Usually the course of treatment is 5-7 days. In more severe cases, it can be extended up to two weeks. If secondary bacterial flora joins during an adenovirus infection, then therapy may take a month.
For drug therapy of adenovirus infection, the following are used:
Vasoconstrictor nasal drops. These remedies help stop a runny nose and eliminate heavy discharge. Before instilling drops, rinse the child's nose with salt solutions ("Aquamaris", "Aqualor", "Dolphin"). Usually drops are prescribed for 3-5 days. Their longer use contributes to the development of complications and even a lingering rhinitis.
Antipyretic. They are used only when the temperature rises above 38 degrees. To eliminate subfebrile condition, antipyretic drugs should not be used. Babies are prescribed paracetamol-based drugs. To remove the heat, you can wipe the child's body with gauze napkins dipped in boiled water.
Eye drops. They are used to eliminate lacrimation and redness of the eyes. Before instilling drops, the child's eyes must be wiped with cotton pads dipped in weak tea or plain boiled water. Inflamed eyes should be treated 3-4 times a day.
Immunostimulating agents. They are prescribed for moderately severe disease and weakened babies. Can also be used in immunocompromised children. Often prescribed as suppositories, nasal drops, or aerosols. They are written out for 5-7 days.
Fortifying agents. These include multivitamin complexes and adaptogens (Eleutherococcus, Schisandra). They are used in the second half of the disease after the acute process subsides. They help the child to recover faster and strengthen the immune system.
Antitussives. Appointed when a cough occurs. For better sputum discharge, expectorant drugs can be used, as well as herbal breast preparations. Decoctions made from coltsfoot, sage, chamomile and calendula are perfect. They are used with caution, as they can cause allergic reactions.
When the bacterial flora is attached, antibiotics are prescribed. Usually the course of the disease becomes more severe. Antibacterial agents with a wide spectrum of action (Amoxiclav, Flemoxin solutab, cephalosporin preparations and others) are perfect. The drugs are prescribed by the attending physician, taking into account the age of the child and the chronic diseases of the child.
Prevention
Preventing adenovirus infection is much easier than treating adverse symptoms. Preventive measures help prevent massive outbreaks and significantly reduce the incidence of illness in babies.
In order to reduce and reduce the development of infection, use the following tips:
Do not take your child to kindergarten during an outbreak of respiratory illness. Compliance with quarantine helps prevent massive cases of illness. Typically, quarantine activities in preschool educational institutions last 10-14 days.
It is necessary to strengthen the immune system. Walking in the fresh air and active games on the street will perfectly help with this. Also shown is good nutrition and adherence to the daily regimen.
Do not exacerbate concomitant diseases. Often, children with long-term otitis media or sinusitis are more susceptible to adenovirus infection. Regularly undergo examinations with your child by an otolaryngologist to avoid exacerbations.
During epidemic outbreaks, use special protective masks. They will help protect the upper respiratory tract from viruses. Gauze masks should be changed every 2-3 hours.
Adenovirus infection completely resolves in 7-10 days. After high-quality treatment, babies recover quickly. Only adherence to preventive measures will help prevent re-infection later.
