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Published on: October 26, 2018

Clinical presentation and characteristics of pharyngeal adenovirus infections

Olga Dominguez1, Pablo Rojo, Susana de Las Heras

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|August 12, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Adenovirus pharyngeal infections in young children often present with high fever and tonsillitis, mimicking bacterial infections. This study details the clinical features of 209 pediatric adenovirus cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Virology
  • Clinical Microbiology

Background:

  • Adenovirus infections are common in children.
  • Distinguishing viral from bacterial pharyngitis is clinically important.
  • Clinical presentation of adenovirus pharyngitis can overlap with bacterial infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the clinical and laboratory findings of adenovirus pharyngeal infections in children.
  • To highlight the similarities between adenovirus pharyngitis and bacterial infections in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 209 children under 15 years with positive adenovirus pharyngeal cultures.
  • Review of clinical data including age, peak temperature, physical examination findings (tonsillitis, exudates), white blood cell counts, and C-reactive protein levels.

Main Results:

  • The mean age was 37 months, with a mean peak temperature of 39.2°C.
  • Tonsillitis was observed in 88% of children, with 52% exhibiting exudative tonsillitis.
  • Elevated white blood cell counts (>15,000/mm³) and C-reactive protein (>7 mg/dL) were noted in 48% and 22.5% of patients, respectively.

Conclusions:

  • Adenovirus pharyngeal infections in young children frequently present with symptoms that mimic severe bacterial infections.
  • Clinical and laboratory findings such as high fever, exudative tonsillitis, leukocytosis, and elevated CRP can be seen in adenovirus infections.
  • These findings emphasize the need for careful clinical evaluation to differentiate adenovirus from bacterial etiologies in pediatric pharyngitis.

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