Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025
An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
Adenovirus can be a serious, life-threatening disease, even in previously healthy children
Miri Dotan1,2, Elena Zion3,2, Efraim Bilavsky1,2
1Department of Paediatrics C, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Insights
Severe adenovirus infections can be life-threatening, even in previously healthy children. This study examines clinical characteristics of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions for adenovirus.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
- Virology
Background:
- Adenovirus infections are common in children.
- Clinical characteristics of severe pediatric adenovirus infections requiring intensive care are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical features of children with adenovirus infection admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
- To compare characteristics between PICU admissions and non-PICU hospitalizations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of clinical data for children hospitalized with adenovirus infection from January 2005 to March 2020.
- Comparison of data between PICU patients and non-PICU patients in a 1:2 ratio.
Main Results:
- 69 children with adenovirus infection were admitted to the PICU (5% of all adenovirus hospitalizations).
- 49% of PICU patients were previously healthy; 5 deaths occurred, all with underlying conditions.
- Viral co-infection rates decreased in the PICU group after widespread viral panel implementation.
Conclusions:
- Adenovirus can cause severe, life-threatening illness in children, including those who are otherwise healthy.
- Cidofovir treatment in 21 children, including 11 previously healthy, showed no attributed side effects.
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.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
01:29Acute Respiratory Failure-V
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-I
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
01:30Acute Respiratory Failure-III
01:29Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
01:23Acute Respiratory Failure-IV