Do you know what is adenovirus? If you are a parent or guardian of a child, you may have heard about this. Known to routinely cause infections in children, it has been a cause for concern in schools and parent groups alike. As having information is essential to deal with this health problem in children, we talked to pediatrician Fabiane Durão, who explained a little about the adenovirus and the risks it can cause to the little ones. Check out!
What is adenovirus? Understand what it can do to your child
According to Dr. Fabiane, the adenovirus is actually not a specific microorganism, but a group. “Adenovirus is a group of viruses that commonly cause respiratory and intestinal tract diseases. Adenovirus is transmitted by direct contact with someone who is infected, by the fecal-oral route (contact with contaminated feces) or by aerosols, droplets and sneezing (as in the case of COVID-19)”, he explains to the pediatrician.
Adenovirus usually causes very general infections, the so-called “viruses”, common in childhood, with flu and cold symptoms. However, it is also possible that the condition evolves into more serious illnesses. Dr. Fabiane cites some examples of diseases caused by this group of viruses: “It can cause pneumoniatonsillitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, bronchitis, diarrhea and gastroenteritis”.
How is the prevention of adenovirus, treatment and recovery
With so many possible illnesses, it is only natural that parents and caregivers want to help their little ones avoid infections caused by adenovirus. However, prevention is still very restricted and you can’t escape the basics: good hygiene. “The best is always wash your hands well. There is even a vaccine for adenovirus (types 4 and 7), but it is only given to military personnel”, says the doctor.
If the child is infected by the adenovirus and manifests symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention to receive the correct diagnosis. Excluding the possibility of other types of more serious infections, such as bacterial, fungal and parasitic, the treatment is very simple and easy to handle.
“The treatment can be done at home, if it is not serious, with adequate fluid intake, rest, nasal wash, analgesics for respiratory diseases and oral and antiemetic serum for cases of gastroenteritis. In the most serious situations, when dehydration and respiratory failure, the child must be hospitalized”, concludes the doctor.
Source: cuidadospelavida.com.br
