With the advent of the autumn-winter season, children begin to get sick more often with various forms of colds. The pediatrician diagnoses ARVI, and parents are surprised: it seems like she had ARVI recently, is she again? But the fact is that there are a lot of varieties of viruses, and every time new bacteria can become provocateurs of the disease. One of the culprits for the appearance of a cold can be an adenovirus infection. In children, the symptoms of this disease are accompanied by signs of severe intoxication, fever, damage to the mucous membranes of the throat, nose and eyes. Often, the lymphatic system is also involved in the pathological process.
Causes of the disease
Outbreaks of adenovirus infection in children and adults are provoked by a DNA-containing adenovirus, which is characterized by increased vitality and resistance in an external, even unfavorable to it, environment. In residential premises, especially in unventilated rooms, it can be quietly located for two weeks. He is not afraid of heat and cold: he remains active even after twice freezing and heating for half an hour. Only boiling and irradiation with ultraviolet radiation has a destructive effect on it.
The source of pathogenic bacteria most often becomes an infected person, from the body of which the virus is excreted along with secretions from the nose. It spreads through sneezing, talking and coughing. The most dangerous in terms of infection is the period of the first two weeks of infection. Over the next two weeks, the patient can spread the infection by airborne droplets and in everyday life.
Adenovirus infection in children and adults enters the body through the mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive systems, as well as the mucous membranes of the eyes. Getting into the epithelial layer of the membranes and cells of the lymph nodes, it multiplies.
The minimum incubation period of the infection is 1-2 days. The maximum period during which the patient does not experience any signs of the disease, but at the same time is able to infect others - 12 days.
After the infection, the body develops type-specific immunity. It lasts only 5-6 years and acts only against the virus that the body has already encountered. Today, more than 50 varieties of adenovirus are known, so a person can carry this disease several times during his life.
How does the disease appear?
Symptoms of adenoviral infection in children can occur in mild, moderate and severe forms. The disease begins unexpectedly and acutely. Signs of the disease are: a sharp rise in temperature to high values, the appearance of a feeling of nasal congestion, sore throat and pain when swallowing. An inflammatory process develops in the upper respiratory tract.
The child shows signs of intoxication: appetite decreases, weakness and headache appear. In young children, cramps can occur at high temperatures.
Increased discharge from the nose. At the beginning of the disease, they are transparent, but then they become thick and green. Congestion does not allow breathing through the nose, which is why the baby is forced to breathe through the mouth. As a result, dry mouth appears, and lips begin to crack. This is an additional discomfort.
With adenovirus infection in children, the symptoms of the disease include redness and swelling of the tonsils, the appearance of purulent white plaque on them in the form of small dots that are easily removed with a cotton swab. Mucus may drain down the back of the throat.
In young children, nausea, pain and bloating in the abdomen, rare vomiting, and loose stools are common symptoms of adenovirus. From the very beginning of the onset of infection, the patient is tormented by a dry, barking cough, and sometimes dry rales can be heard. Gradually, the cough becomes wetter with the release of sputum.
Despite the fact that adenovirus infection is a type of acute respiratory viral infection, eye lesions become characteristic symptoms of the inflammatory process. Conjunctivitis can appear both at the initial stages of the disease, and on 3-5 days of the course. In this case, usually one eye is first affected, and the next day the other is involved in the inflammatory process.
The patient is worried about pain and pain in the eyes, lacrimation appears. On examination, redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, abundant mucopurulent discharge, leading to clumping of the patient's eyelashes after waking up from sleep, are noted.
With the development of adenovirus infection in children, at the stages of moderate and severe forms of the course of the disease, two main syndromes are distinguished:
- a syndrome of respiratory disorders similar to the clinical manifestations of acute respiratory viral infections, but characterized by a more severe course;
- syndrome of pharyngoconjunctival fever, when a high temperature is kept for a long time, accompanied by fever, and at the same time pharyngitis and conjunctivitis develop.
The duration of the disease with uncomplicated forms of the course is usually 7 days. With layering of other infections, the main symptoms of adenovirus in children can last up to 3 weeks.
In many children, this disease can cause its own, especially pronounced manifestations. So, for example, in newborns while breastfeeding, the disease usually proceeds in milder forms: at low temperatures, without conjunctivitis and without enlarged lymph nodes. The main symptoms in this case proceed in the same way as with the manifestation of a usual SARS.
Under the influence of this virus, a weakening of the immune system occurs, so a small organism becomes more susceptible to bacterial attacks. As a result, children under one year of age can rapidly develop pneumonia, accompanied by shortness of breath, convulsive seizures, vomiting, and diarrhea. In this case, no self-medication techniques can be performed. Only a doctor can give an accurate assessment of the patient's condition and relevant recommendations. Therefore, when threatening symptoms appear, it is urgent to consult a specialist.
Possible complications
With complications of adenovirus infection in children, the symptoms of the disease are accompanied by the development of bronchitis or pneumonia. The addition of a secondary bacterial pathogenic flora can provoke inflammation in the organs of the ENT system. In addition, the virus, spreading with the bloodstream, is able to infect any organs and systems of the child’s body.
In infancy, viral pneumonia, which is often called hemorrhagic, can develop. The defeat of the adenovirus of the vessels of the lung tissue contributes to the accumulation of blood in the alveoli, which leads to respiratory failure. The clinical manifestations of viral pneumonia are severe and can last up to two months.
Eye damage can damage the cornea and provoke cataracts.
Lesions of the lymph nodes in the abdominal cavity contribute to the development of mesadenitis and can cause the onset of appendicitis. With the manifestations of this form of the disease, the main symptoms are paroxysmal pain, accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting, while there is no diarrhea.
Other types of adenoviral pathologies
Depending on the method of infection entering the body and which organs were affected, adenoviral diseases are divided into the following types:
- Qatar upper respiratory tract. An inflammatory syndrome appears with a slight cough and runny nose, reddening of the throat and a slight increase in lymph nodes. At the same time, body temperature does not rise above 38 ° C.
- Tonsillopharyngitis. In this case, the tonsils are affected and there is severe pain in the throat, which gives to the ear. Since streptococcal infection joins in with this course of the disease, a rash appears on the tonsils. Symptoms of adenovirus infection in children: temperature, enlargement of the submandibular and cervical lymph nodes, runny nose, cough, conjunctivitis. In rare cases of this form of the disease, the temperature may not increase, but the child may feel weakness, chills and apathy.
- Intestinal adenovirus infection. Usually occurs in children up to a year. For several days, the child has loose stools, vomiting and fever. This causes a runny nose and cough.
Diagnosis and treatment of adenovirus
Adenovirus infection has typical manifestations and is diagnosed clinically. In the presence of atypical indicators of the course of the disease, adenovirus is differentiated with mononucleosis. In this case, laboratory diagnostics are used to detect antibodies to adenovirus in serum. A longer method of the virus is the study of a smear from the nasopharynx.
For this disease, the analysis of urine and blood is characterized by the absence of specific changes. As with other viral infections, adenovirus is characterized by a decrease in the total number of leukocytes and an increase in lymphocytes. Perhaps some acceleration of ESR.
Usually, the treatment of symptoms of adenovirus infection in children is carried out at home. The reason for hospitalization is a severe form of the course of the disease and the appearance of complications.
There are no specific drugs to act on adenovirus, since antiviral drugs in this case do not give the optimal effect. Therefore, the main treatment for the disease occurs according to the symptoms.
How to treat?
According to the recommendations of the famous pediatrician Komarovsky, in the treatment of symptoms of adenovirus infection in children, it is necessary to create favorable conditions that allow the body to defeat the disease on its own. It is important to exclude psycho-emotional stress, to ensure the sufficient use of fluids (fruit drinks, teas, juices, etc.). Regular ventilation and wet cleaning are required. With a child you need to walk regularly.
The treatment of symptoms of adenoviral infection in children according to Komarovsky implies, whenever possible, to exclude the use of potent drugs. Meanwhile, many pediatricians in the treatment of the disease use the following treatment regimens:
- At high temperatures (38.0 ° C and above), antipyretic drugs should be taken in accordance with the age dosage. It is necessary to give a medicine only with a rise in temperature, and not regularly. Physical methods can also be used to reduce body temperature: do not “wrap” the child, use cold on large vessels and wipe.
- When a dry cough appears, an alkaline drink is prescribed: warm Borjomi mineral water or milk with soda. It is impossible to use antitussive drugs at this moment.
- Steam inhalations with alkaline formulations, Lazolvan and saline (through a nebulizer) have a good therapeutic effect.
- It is necessary to take drugs that contribute to the thinning of sputum and its rapid withdrawal.
- Treatment of adenovirus infection in children with symptoms and signs of eye damage involves washing them with weakly brewed tea, furatsilin solution, a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a decoction of chamomile. To quickly relieve the main symptoms, you can use Oxolinic ointment or instill "Ophthalmoferon". In any case, treatment procedures are applied to both eyes.
- To eliminate nasal congestion, it is necessary to use drugs that contain sea water. If necessary, vasoconstrictive drops are prescribed (Nazivin, Vibrocil, etc.), but not longer than 3-5 days. The therapeutic effect is given by instillation with aloe juice and freshly squeezed beet and carrot juices.
- For gargling, use solutions of furatsilina, baking soda and a decoction of chamomile.
- Treatment of the symptoms of adenovirus infection in children with antibiotics is prescribed in extreme cases if there are foci of infection or the development of complications.
- To strengthen the immune system, various vitamin and mineral complexes are prescribed, and it is also recommended to take a rosehip decoction.
Adenovirus infection in adults
Treatment (the symptoms and general signs of the disease we examined above) in adult patients is usually carried out with the use of medications and traditional medicine. Here, as well as in the treatment of childhood illness, there is no specific specific drug.
The treatment is carried out comprehensively and most often includes antiviral, antipyretic, expectorant and pain medication. When secondary diseases appear and complications develop, antibiotics can be prescribed. In addition, vitamin complexes, immunomodulators and immunostimulants are definitely recommended.
In adults, as in children, treatment for symptoms of adenovirus infection should include adequate fluid intake and bed rest.
Alternative medicine in the treatment of the virus
Traditional medicine recommends a lot of methods to combat the manifestations of this ailment. The most popular ways to eliminate the symptoms of a cold is the use of teas and decoctions with a diaphoretic effect. It is these methods that contribute to the elimination of toxic substances and greatly facilitate the patient's condition. To eliminate the symptoms of adenovirus infection in children, they most often use:
- chamomile tea;
- milk and honey drinks;
- nettle infusion;
- tea with raspberries;
- linden decoction;
- dried fruit compotes.
Other folk remedies, for example, viburnum, mint, lemon balm, currant, also have diaphoretic properties.
With a cold
With medical and non-traditional forms of treatment of symptoms of adenovirus infection in children, steam inhalations and warming up the baby's legs are performed to eliminate the common cold. However, such procedures cannot be used for babies or at temperature.
A proven and safe way to eliminate secretions from the nose with the help of folk methods of treating colds is onion and garlic. To do this, chop the vegetables and let the child breathe in by evaporation of their essential oils. To use this product, it is enough to spread the chopped onion or garlic indoors.
Freshly squeezed juice of beets, carrots or aloe juice give a good therapeutic result in the treatment of a cold. If you drip 1-2 drops of these funds into each nostril, breathing becomes easier and cleaner.
When coughing
For the treatment of cough, inhalation is traditionally used over steam of boiled potatoes, decoctions of herbs (chamomile, lemon balm, pine buds) and a hot solution of baking soda.
Effective methods for eliminating cough are considered to be the use of lemon, black radish juice with honey, onion broth or the application of honey mustard cakes.
However, due to the possibility of allergic reactions to the components of the used drugs, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician before using them. Such treatment regimens are not suitable for infants.
With a viral bowel disorder
First of all, foods with a high content of lactose, as well as food that can cause fermentation in the intestine, are excluded from the diet. To exclude dehydration, it is necessary to give sweet water to drink (often, but the child should drink in small sips). Treatment can only be symptomatic.
From diarrhea, traditional medicine recommends giving pomegranate juice, a decoction of pomegranate peels (1 teaspoon of the crushed product to brew in one glass of boiling water) or a strong rice broth.
From attacks of vomiting, a decoction of dill seeds (1 teaspoon per glass of boiling water) or a herbal preparation made from equal parts of pharmacy chamomile, lemon balm and mint helps. Cooked broths take at least three times a day for half a glass.
However, it is important to remember that vomiting, especially in combination with diarrhea, can cause dehydration. In isolated cases of its manifestations, you should not worry - so the body can get rid of unnecessary products. But if bouts of vomiting occur repeatedly, it is urgent to call a doctor.
Disease prevention
Adenovirus infections can be avoided by following standard precautions:
- exclude contact with a sick person;
- ventilate the room more often;
- avoid hypothermia;
- keep the house clean;
- wash your hands more often.
To prevent the disease and prevent the symptoms of adenovirus infection in children, pediatricians recommend hardening procedures and strengthen the baby's immunity.
As a supportive therapy, the use of vitamin complexes is recommended. For this, traditional medicine advises giving a child a tablespoon of such a vitamin mixture 1-2 times a day: 1.5 cups of raisins, ½ cup almonds, 1 cup walnuts, peel of two lemons. .
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