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 the parents are surprised: it seems like recently there was ARVI, is it really her again? But the fact is that there are a huge variety of viruses, and every time more and more new bacteria can become provocateurs of the disease. One of these 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, lesions of the mucous membranes of the throat, nose and eyes. Often the lymphatic system is also involved in the pathological process.
Causes of disease
Outbreaks of adenovirus infection in children and adults are provoked by a DNA-containing adenovirus, which is characterized by increased viability and resistance in an external, even unfavorable environment. In residential areas, especially in unventilated ones, he can safely stay for two weeks. He is not afraid of heat and cold: he remainsactive even after double freezing and heating for half an hour. Only boiling and ultraviolet irradiation has a detrimental effect on it.
The source of pathogenic bacteria is most often an infected person, from whose body the virus is excreted along with discharge from the nose. It is spread by 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 household routes.
Adenoviral 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 for 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 an 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. To date, more than 50 varieties of adenovirus are known, so a person during his life can carry this disease several times during his life.
How does disease appear?
Symptoms of adenovirus infection in children can be mild, moderate or severe. The disease begins unexpectedly and acutely. Signsdiseases become: 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. Young children may experience convulsions at high temperatures.
Nose discharge increases. 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. The result is dry mouth and chapped lips. This brings additional discomfort.
When adenovirus infection in children, the symptoms of the disease include redness and swelling of the tonsils, the appearance of white purulent plaque on them in the form of small specks that are easily removed with a cotton swab. Mucus may run down the back of the throat.
In young children, frequent symptoms of adenovirus are nausea, pain and bloating in the abdomen, rare vomiting, loose stools. From the very beginning of the onset of the infection, the patient is tormented by a dry, barking cough, and sometimes dry wheezing can be heard. Gradually, the cough becomes wetter with phlegm.
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 the 3rd-5th day of the course. In this case, one eye is usually affected first, andthe next day, another one is involved in the inflammatory process.
The patient is worried about pain and pain in the eyes, lacrimation appears. On examination, there are redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, abundant mucopurulent discharge, leading to sticking of the eyelashes of the sick person after waking up from sleep.
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 SARS, but differing in a more severe course;
- pharyngoconjunctival fever syndrome, when a high temperature is maintained for a long time, accompanied by fever, and at the same time pharyngitis and conjunctivitis develop.
Duration of the disease in uncomplicated forms of the course is usually 7 days. With the accumulation of other infections, the main symptoms of adenovirus in children can persist for up to 3 weeks.
In many children, this disease can cause its own, especially pronounced manifestations. For example, in breastfed newborns, the disease usually occurs in milder forms: at low temperatures, without conjunctivitis and without swollen lymph nodes. The main symptoms in this case proceed in the same way as with the manifestation of a normal ARVI.
Under the influence of this virus, immunity is weakened, so the small body becomes more susceptible to bacterial attacks. As a result, children under one year old can rapidly develop pneumonia, accompanied by shortness of breath,seizures, vomiting and diarrhea. In this case, no self-treatment methods can be carried out. Only a doctor can give an accurate assessment of the patient's condition and appropriate recommendations. Therefore, if threatening symptoms appear, it is urgent to consult a specialist.
Possible Complications
When 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, can affect any organs and systems of the child's body.
Viral pneumonia, often referred to as hemorrhagic pneumonia, can develop in infancy. Damage to the vessels of the lung tissues by adenovirus contributes to the accumulation of blood in the alveoli, which leads to the appearance of respiratory failure. Clinical manifestations of viral pneumonia are severe and can last up to two months.
Eye lesions can damage the cornea and cause cataract formation.
Losses of lymph nodes in the abdominal cavity contribute to the development of mesadenitis and can cause appendicitis. With this form of the disease, the main symptoms are paroxysmal pain, accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting, and there is no diarrhea.
Other types of adenovirus pathologies
Depending on the way the infection enters the body and what organsThis affected, adenovirus 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 ˚С.
- Tonsillopharyngitis. In this case, the tonsils are affected and there is a severe sore throat that radiates to the ear. Since a streptococcal infection joins with this course of the disease, a rash appears on the tonsils. Symptoms of adenovirus infection in children: fever, enlarged submandibular and cervical lymph nodes, runny nose, cough, conjunctivitis. In rare cases of this form of the disease, the temperature may not rise, but the child may feel weak, chills and apathy.
- Intestinal adenovirus infection. It usually occurs in children under one year of age. For several days, the child has loose stools, vomiting and fever. This causes a runny nose and cough.
Diagnosis and treatment of adenovirus
Adenoviral infection has typical manifestations and is diagnosed clinically. In the presence of atypical indicators of the course of the disease, adenovirus is differentiated from mononucleosis. In this case, laboratory diagnostics is used to detect antibodies to adenovirus in the blood serum. A longer method of the virus is the study of a swab from the nasopharynx.
For this disease in the analysis of urine and blood is characterized by the absence of specific changes. As with other viralinfections, adenovirus is characterized by a decrease in the total number of leukocytes and an increase in lymphocytes. Some acceleration of ESR is possible.
Typically, the symptoms of adenovirus infection in children are treated 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 medicines for adenovirus, since antiviral drugs in this case do not give the optimal effect. Therefore, the main treatment of 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. Here it is important to exclude psycho-emotional stress, to ensure sufficient consumption of liquids (fruit drinks, teas, juices, etc.). Regular airing of the room and wet cleaning are required. The child needs to walk regularly.
Treatment of symptoms of adenovirus infection in children according to Komarovsky implies, if possible, excluding the use of potent drugs. Meanwhile, many pediatricians in the treatment of the disease use the following treatment regimens:
- At high temperature (38.0 °C and above), antipyretic drugs should be taken in accordance with the age dosage. It is necessary to give the drug only when the temperature rises, and not regularly. Physical methods can also be used to reducebody temperature: do not "wrap" the child, use cold on large vessels and wipe.
- When a dry cough appears, an alkaline drink is prescribed: warm mineral water "Borjomi" or milk with soda. Antitussive drugs should not be used at this time.
- Steam inhalations with alkaline compounds, "Lazolvan" and saline (through a nebulizer) have a good therapeutic effect.
- It is necessary to take drugs that help thin sputum and its rapid removal.
- Treatment of adenovirus infection in children with symptoms and signs of eye damage involves washing them with weakly brewed tea, furacilin solution, a weak solution of potassium permanganate or chamomile decoction. 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 preparations that contain sea water. If necessary, vasoconstrictor drops are prescribed ("Nazivin", "Vibrocil", etc.), but not longer than 3-5 days. The therapeutic effect is given by instillation of aloe juice and freshly squeezed beetroot and carrot juices.
- For gargling, solutions of furacilin, baking soda and chamomile decoction are used.
- Treatment of symptoms of adenovirus infection in children with antibiotics is prescribed in extreme cases in the presence of foci of infection or the development of complications.
- To strengthen the immune system, various vitamin and mineral complexes are prescribed, as well asrosehip decoction is recommended.
Adenovirus infection in adults
Treatment (symptoms and general signs of the disease we discussed above) in adult patients is usually carried out using medications and traditional medicine. Here, as in the treatment of childhood illness, there is no specific special drug.
Treatment is complex and most often includes antiviral, antipyretic, expectorant and pain medications. With the appearance of secondary diseases and the development of complications, antibiotics may 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 disease. The most popular ways to eliminate the symptoms of a cold is the use of teas and decoctions that have a diaphoretic effect. It is these techniques that contribute to the removal of toxic substances and greatly facilitate the patient's condition. To eliminate the symptoms of adenovirus infection in children, the following is most often used:
- chamomile tea;
- milk honey drinks;
- nettle infusion;
- raspberry tea;
- lime decoction;
- dried fruit compotes.
SweatshopsOther folk remedies also have properties, for example, viburnum, mint, lemon balm, currant.
With a runny nose
With medication and non-traditional forms of treatment for the symptoms of adenovirus infection in children, steam inhalations and warming up the baby's legs are carried out to eliminate the common cold. However, these procedures cannot be used for infants or at a temperature.
A proven and safe way to eliminate nasal discharge using folk methods for the treatment of colds is onion and garlic. To do this, the vegetables are crushed and allowed to breathe by the evaporation of their essential oils to the child. To apply this remedy, it is enough to spread the chopped onion or garlic indoors.
Freshly squeezed beet juice, carrot juice or aloe juice give a good therapeutic result in the treatment of the common cold. If you put 1-2 drops of these products in each nostril, breathing becomes easier and clearer.
When coughing
For the treatment of cough, inhalations are traditionally used over the steam of boiled potatoes, decoctions of herbs (chamomile, lemon balm, pine buds) and a hot solution of baking soda.
Effective methods for eliminating coughs are considered to be the use of lemon, black radish juice with honey, onion broth or the imposition of honey mustard cakes.
However, due to the possibility of allergic reactions to the components of the products used, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician before using them. Such treatment regimens are not suitable for infants.
For a viral disorderintestines
First of all, products with a high content of lactose, as well as food that can cause fermentation in the intestines, are excluded from the diet. To exclude dehydration of the body, 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 crushed means to brew in one glass of boiling water) or strong rice water.
A decoction of dill seeds (1 teaspoon per glass of boiling water) or a herbal preparation prepared from equal parts of chamomile, lemon balm and mint helps against vomiting. Prepared decoctions are taken 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 - this is how the body can get rid of products it does not need. But if bouts of vomiting occur repeatedly, then an urgent need to call a doctor.
Disease Prevention
Infection with adenovirus can be avoided by following standard precautions:
- exclude contact with a sick person;
- ventilate the room more often;
- avoid hypothermia;
- keep your home clean;
- wash hands more often.
To prevent the disease and prevent symptoms of adenovirus infection in children, pediatricians recommendcarry out hardening procedures and strengthen the baby's immunity.
As maintenance therapy, the use of vitamin complexes is recommended. Traditional medicine for this advises 1-2 times a day to give the child a tablespoon of such a vitamin mixture: 1.5 cups of raisins, ½ cup of almonds, 1 cup of walnuts, peel of two lemons. All ingredients are twisted through a meat grinder and mixed with honey.
During the peak season of colds, it is recommended to use rosehip decoction. Vitamin supplements and complexes can be a good help in preventing the symptoms of adenovirus infection in children.
To strengthen the immune system, the baby must be properly hardened. Short air baths and long walks in the fresh air, regardless of the weather, are a good start to hardening procedures.
