Cases of 'highly contagious' adenovirus are surging - here are the symptoms
The festive season might be on its way out, but one nasty virus is apparently going nowhere.
According to health experts, the dreaded adenovirus - famed for its high transmission rate - is one of the many reasons why every man and his dog has seemingly endured a brief bout of illness since the start of December.
After all, where is a super-contagious virus most likely to thrive? Train carriages packed with people travelling home, pubs rammed full with Christmas party celebrants, and supermarkets where customers have had their hands over everything in store, of course.
Apparently, however, more so this year than ever before, this DNA virus has been doing the rounds, with a record amount of cases being in the UK alone.
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Not only does this virus infect a person's upper and lower respiratory tract, but a horde of other organs.
This could possibly include a person's eyes, their gastrointestinal tract, and their kidneys.
And given this high likelihood of catching adenovirus this winter, doctors, nurses and pharmacists are attempting to raise awareness of the possible indicators of the condition.
"It is spread from breathing in infected aerosol droplets, by inadvertently rubbing the virus directly into the eye, or via the faecal-oral route (not handwashing after using the toilet)," Dr Deborah Lee at Dr Fox Online Pharmacy explained, as per Cosmopolitan.
"It spreads rapidly in places where people are in close proximity."
She added: "The virus is resistant to soap and many other commonly used cleaning products."
Despite the symptoms being pretty mild, it can take people some time to get over them.
Knowing and identifying these symptoms, however, will mean that patients receive the most appropriate course of treatment as quickly as possible, and as such they might not be knocked off their feet for that long.
It's viral to note, however, that in cases of individuals battling an already reduced immune system, the condition can prove deadly.
What are the symptoms of adenovirus?
"Adenovirus is a typical virus that causes the common cold and/or flu-like symptoms," Dr Lee continued.
As such, most patients suffer from the likes of a fever, a runny nose, a sore throat, a cough, shortness of breath and enlarged cervical lymph nodes in the neck. In more severe cases, however, patients can suffer from an odd mix of other symptoms, including conjunctivitis, ear pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, tummy pain, or a urinary tract infection.
Though the majority of people have the power to bounce back from these symptoms after a week or two, for others, the risk is hugely heightened.
"Those most at risk are babies and children under five, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone who is immunocompromised," Dr Lee added.
How to avoid adenovirus
According to the medic, the best means of preventing infection is to avoid touching your face and nose, blowing your nose regularly into a clean paper handkerchief before throwing it into the bin, and regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water before drying them thoroughly.
Those hoping to avoid catching the virus should also be careful to wash children's toys regularly, clean and disinfect worktops, changing areas, toilets, and bathrooms more often than usual, stop sharing the likes of cups, plates, food, and towels with others, and wear a mask if you need to venture out to busy areas.
Rhianna Benson