Adenovirus in West Bengal is a life-threatening condition spread person to person physically.
In recent news, Bengal’s health authorities have been put on high alert after a surge in adenovirus cases has led to a spike in pediatric wards being filled up quickly. Reports suggest that at least 32 percent of samples sent to the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (ICMR-NICED) in Kolkata since January have tested positive for the virus. Adenovirus is a life-threatening condition that spreads primarily through physical contact, such as shaking hands, coughing, and sneezing.
Adenoviruses are medium-sized and nonenveloped viruses that can cause a range of infections, including the common cold or flu. Studies show that there are about 50 types of adenoviruses that can infect humans. Although infections can occur throughout the year, they tend to peak in winter.
It is worth noting that children often overcome the illness on their own within a few days. Still, some infections such as pink eye or pneumonia can last for a week or more, making prevention critical in combating these infections.
People with weakened immune systems or existing respiratory or cardiac diseases are at a higher risk of developing severe illness from adenovirus infection. Each type of adenovirus can affect individuals differently and has specific signs and symptoms, according to WebMD.
Some of the signs and symptoms of adenovirus infections include bronchitis (cough, runny nose, fever, chills), colds and other respiratory infections (stuffy and runny nose, cough, sore throat, and swollen glands), croup (barking cough, trouble breathing, high-pitched sound when breathing in), ear infection (ear pain, irritability, fever), pink eye (conjunctivitis) (red eyes, discharge from your eyes, tearing, feeling like there’s something in your eye), pneumonia (fever, cough, trouble breathing), stomach and intestinal infections (diarrhea, vomiting, headache, fever, stomach cramps), swelling of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis and encephalitis) (headache, fever, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting – rare), and urinary tract infections (burning and pain while urinating, frequency/blood in your urine).
Although there is no effective vaccine available for adenovirus, it is crucial to follow preventive measures, such as maintaining good hygiene, washing hands frequently, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and wearing masks in public places. These measures can help curb the spread of the virus and protect oneself and the community from adenovirus infections.