If you have been ill recently, you have not been alone. There is now a large and increasing extent of respiratory infections in the population with co-occurrence of covid-19, influenza and RS virus infections, FHI wrote in its weekly report before Christmas. But if you don’t see a doctor or take a corona test, few people will know which viral disease you have. What is adenovirus? Adenovirus infections are very common, especially in young children, and can cause symptoms from the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal system or eyes, depending on the serotype. In young children, it is very common for the virus to cause respiratory infections, but fever is also normal. This can also happen in some older children. Adenovirus can also cause outbreaks in close environments. Such an outbreak of acute eye inflammation in Tromsø in 2012 caused 25 confirmed cases within three weeks. The virus is transmitted by contact and close droplet transmission. The virus has an incubation period of approximately five days, with eye and intestinal infection the incubation period is seven to ten days. Many infections are asymptomatic. Most common with upper respiratory tract infections are fever, sore throat and cough. Diarrhea, vomiting and fever are also common. Respiratory infections and gastroenteritis last approx. a week, eye problems can last for several weeks. Cocktail of viruses According to Eldbjørn Furnes, GP in Bodø and specialist in general medicine, there are many patients who can be infected by several different viruses at the same time. – We have patients who come to us and tell us that they have fallen ill, then get well for a few days and get sick again. On several occasions, we have detected both three and four different viruses in the same virus sample, Furnes explains. A virus in particular can create a confusing picture of symptoms for people, according to the GP. The adenovirus. – It is a virus that can take very different forms. If you had respiratory symptoms and a cold just before Christmas and then you start vomiting after a few days. Then you may have contracted the adenovirus, says Furnes. Furnus says that, based on his own experience, as well as feedback from the children’s department, he sees that a lot of the adenovirus is now in December. This is what Adenovirus looks like if you look at it through a microscope. Photo: CDC / AP The adenovirus can also cause even more symptoms in children, and sometimes adults. – It can cause eye inflammation, and as it is then caused by a virus, antibiotics will not be of much help, he explains. In addition, high levels of infection are often seen, but especially in children. The virus season surprises in several ways But there are several things that surprise the GP about this year’s virus season. – What we feel is special is that the season already started in May and June, and since then there has been a steady flow of patients with respiratory-related complaints. In addition, Furnes records that some patients with Rhino virus appear abnormally ill. – Adults have come to us with a greatly reduced general condition and high levels of infection, but are surprised to receive feedback on virus tests that it is only caused by Rhinovirus. – It is our most common cold virus, and normally causes mild and transient symptoms. Some viruses better known than others Are Stuwitz Berg, senior physician and specialist in children’s diseases at FHI, says that there are many viruses that can infect and cause illness. – The fact that some are more famous than others is probably mostly about how common they are, he says. Rhinovirus is the “common” cold virus, but many other viruses cause cold symptoms. Norovirus is among the most common communicable viruses. Adenovirus can cause both respiratory symptoms and communicable diseases, but also eye catarrh, explains the superintendent. Illustration: EzumeImages / Getty Images/iStockphoto FHI does not monitor adenovirus infections, but says that there are many viruses that can cause disease in humans. – We primarily monitor those who have the greatest potential to infect many people and with the possibility of more serious disease, says Berg. – We therefore do not know how many viruses are circulating at any given time. The rhinovirus is, like all viruses, very small, but this is how the researchers have illustrated the virus. Illustration: Dr_Microbe / Getty Images/iStockphoto So what should we do to avoid getting sick? Berg from FHI says that the general measures from the pandemic still apply: For respiratory viruses, it is important that those who are sick stay at home for the first couple of days while they have a lot of symptoms, as these are easily contagious. If you cannot stay at home because you have to go to the pharmacy, for example, you can use a mask. Coughing and sneezing in the crook of your elbow is also a good idea. Good hand hygiene is particularly important for communicable diseases. Immunity debt after the pandemic Are Stuwitz Berg, senior physician and specialist in children’s diseases at FHI Photo: Torstein Bøe But the reason why we are getting sicker now than before can also be blamed on the pandemic. – As a population, due to the strict measures during the pandemic, we have encountered fewer viruses and thus our immune system has not been refreshed for antibodies against all these diseases, says Berg. In other words, we have an “immunity debt”. But the superior from FHI can take comfort in the fact that we are now in the process of paying back the debt. – Depending on how the infection spreads in society, it will probably take at least a normal season before it is “paid back”.
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