Adenovirus Causes Infection That May Lead to Pneumonia

A hacking cough that is plaguing thousands of people across the country could be caused by the adenovirus which can lead to pneumonia.

Highlights

In UK, a hacking cough which cannot be treated with antibiotics has affected many.
The infection due to Adenovirus causes a sore throat, runny nose and eyes, sneezing, headaches, cough and fever.

Infection with adenovirus may also cause croup or bronchitis. Some infections may also lead to conjunctivitis (pink-eye), skin rash, diarrhea and bladder infections.

A hacking cough that is plaguing thousands of people across the country could be caused by the adenovirus which can lead to pneumonia. GP surgeries across Britain have reported seeing a large number of patients with a cough, which cannot be treated with antibiotics.

Common Cold
Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about Common Cold

‘Adenovirus often infects the airways and the intestinal tract and common complications include pneumonia and meningitis.’

Adenovirus often infects the airways and the intestinal tract and common complications include pneumonia and meningitis, according to clinical pharmacology expert Dr Ananya Mandal.

She writes, “Some persons with a poor immunity are prone to develop complications due to adenovirus infection. Common but serious complications include lung infection or pneumonia, middle ear infection or otitis media and brain infections or meningitis.”

Dr Clare Gerada, former head of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said doctors are seeing 'a lot of people with a virus more severe than a normal cold, almost a type of bronchitis'. One of the main symptoms of the virus is a hacking cough, which can take up to three weeks to clear.

Pneumonia - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by a bacteria or a virus. It causes inflammation of the alveoli or the air sacs of the lungs.

Dr Anna Kuczynska, a GP in Cardiff, said, "In most cases, unless the patient has another underlying chronic condition for example, heart or lung disease or diabetes, there is often nothing the GP can do to help other than recommend resting and drinking plenty of fluids."

She added: 'Antibiotics will be of no help for most normally healthy people. 'If you see blood or are breathless with your symptoms, have lost weight or symptoms are on-going more than three weeks, patients should get advice.'

Cough - Symptom Evaluation - Frequently Asked Questions
Cough is a symptom of a condition usually affecting the respiratory tract. It may be acute or chronic, wet or dry. The type of cough can help the physician diagnose the underlying condition.

The virus has been blamed in part for bay closures at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where doctors have reported a rise in patients coming to A&E with flu-related symptoms.

Deputy Medical Director Richard Miller told Cambridge News, “The emergency department is already at capacity with high volumes of people attending and now we are seeing an increase in patients being admitted with flu-related illnesses.”

Nasal Discharge – Symptom Evaluation
The cause of nasal discharge can be identified based on the type of discharge. In some conditions, the mucus production increases and manifests in the form of a running nose.

More vulnerable people, such as children, older people or people with long term conditions may need to be admitted, but they should check with their GP or local pharmacist.

‘However, on the whole people with coughs, colds and flu-like illnesses will be better off staying at home, resting and drinking plenty of fluids.'

Source-Medindia