Prevalence of adeno virus associated diseases among pediatric population in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Abstract

Background: Human adenoviruses (HAdV), can cause infections at any age but most commonly in young children and infants. Most children have experienced at least one bout of adenovirus infection by ten years old.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted during July 2023 to December 2023 with 100 patients. Clinical data was collected from patients diagnosed with adenovirus to study adenoviral associated diseases, clinical manifestations and treatments administered. Statistical analysis was done using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 26.0, p<0.05 was considered significant.

Results: In the current study children are between 1 month to 15 years and males (55%) outnumber females (45%). The most prevalent symptoms were high-grade persistent fever (100%), cough (79%), cold (67%), vomiting’s (34%), shortness of breath (18%) abdominal pain and noisy breathing (12%), sore throat (10%), headache (5%), conjunctivitis (3%) and ear pain (1%). Comorbidities were, gastroenteritis with dehydration (3%), enlarged adenoids (5%), enlarged tonsils (4%), sepsis (4%), sickle thalassemia (1%), pansinusitis (1%) and shock with down syndrome (1%). Support received include, nebulization (69%), high-flow nasal cannula (HNFC) (2%), oxygen (2%), both HNFC and oxygen (1%). 48% received azithromycin, of which on day of admission (12%), second day (14%), third day (13%), fourth day (9%). Notably all children were discharged successfully without encountering any complications.

Conclusions: HAdV infections are commonly associated with high-grade fever, challenging the conventional perception that respiratory infections are their predominant manifestation. Timely, precise detection of HAdV infection is essential for enhancing treatment and reducing inappropriate use of antibiotics.