Adenovirus can be a serious, life‐threatening disease, even in previously healthy children

Abstract

Aim Adenovirus infections are exceedingly common in childhood. However, little is known of the clinical characteristics of children admitted with severe infection to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods Clinical data on children hospitalised with adenovirus infection between January 2005 and March 2020 were collected. We compared data between children hospitalised in the PICU and those who were not in a 1:2 ratio. Results During the study period, 69 children with adenovirus infection were admitted to the PICU, representing 5% of all hospitalised children with adenovirus. Thirty‐four (49%) were previously healthy children. Mortality occurred in 5 patients, and all had an underlying illness. Cidofovir was used in 21 children, including 11 who were previously healthy. No side effects were attributed to the treatment. During 2005–2014, viral co‐infection rates were 42% in the PICU group and 11% in the control group (p = 0.002). However, during 2015–2020, when the viral panel became widespread in our institution, the rates of co‐infection were similar in the two groups (32% and 34%, p = 1.0). Conclusion Our findings suggest that adenovirus may present as a serious, life‐threatening disease even in previously healthy children.

Human Adenovirus Gene Expression and Replication Is Regulated through Dynamic Changes in Nucleoprotein Structure throughout Infection

“…Understanding the mechanisms by which HAdV accomplishes viral gene expression and replication in the host cell is important for several reasons. First, while typically self-limiting in healthy adults, HAdV can induce severe disease in certain populations, such as pediatric, geriatric, and immunocompromised individuals (including those on immunosuppressants) [ 158 , 159 , 160 , 161 ]. For example, recently, HAdV has received significant notoriety for its potential involvement in a mysterious outbreak of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin that has been diagnosed in over 650 children from 33 countries around the world (reviewed in [ 162 , 163 ]).…”

Severe pneumonia caused by human adenovirus type 55 in children

“…The sample size of this study may be too small to truly reflect the age distribution of severe pneumonia caused by HAdV-55 infection. Meanwhile, HAdV-infected children with underlying diseases are prone to develop severe forms ( 17 ). None of the patients included in this study had previous serious underlying diseases such as immunodeficiency, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, premature birth, atopy, or congenital heart disease.…”

An observation: Could the spread of Adenovirus in South Asia pose a hazard to global public health?

“…Under the names HAdV‐A through ‐G, more than 52 serotypes and more than 100 genotypes of the AdV virus have been put into seven different species. Certain kinds of AdVs have been shown to cause serious problems, especially in people with weak immune systems 1 . The reactivation of a dormant virus or interaction with an infected person can both lead to Adenovirus (AdV) infection 2 .…”