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How to relieve adenovirus symptoms as cases of ‘highly contagious’ bug surge
If you've been feeling poorly, there's a high chance it might be adenovirus
Jen Thomas
It's been a bad flu and cold season to round off what has been a miserable 2025 for many people.
Now, to top things off, there's a particularly vicious virus doing the rounds.
Adenovirus has been sweeping the country and is being described as 'highly contagious', and easily transmissible with a particularly potent strain on the rise.
It's a prime time for coughs and colds to spread, especially in the UK, with us all piling into pubs and packed train carriages to head off for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
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If you're one of the many unlucky victims, chances are you'll do anything to shift the lurgy and start to feel better.
What can be done to get over adenovirus faster, and if you haven't got it yet, what can you do to prevent it?
According to the NHS, the adenovirus can cause a wide range of symptoms similar to those of a common cold.
The UKHSA says the virus frequently causes mild, cold-like illnesses.
It can impact people of all ages, but lab positivity results recorded the highest positivity level was in young children aged under five years, at 5.7 per cent.
There are many strains of adenovirus to be found, and it is known to mutate over time, which is one of the reasons it continues to thrive.
Dr Deborah Lee at Dr Fox Online Pharmacy explained, told Cosmopolitan.
"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), it spreads rapidly in places where people are in close proximity."
She warned: "The virus is resistant to soap and many other commonly used cleaning products."
"Adenovirus is a typical virus that causes the common cold and/or flu-like symptoms," Dr Lee added, which includes the dreaded fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath and more.
However, in more severe cases people are experiencing ear pain, vomiting, and conjunctivitis.
One of the most important things with any illness is to make sure you stay hydrated.
Drink lots of water, and warm drinks with honey and lemon can help to ease sore throats and speed up healing.
According to the CDC, it is 'untreatable' with 'no approved antiviral medicines or specific treatments'. However, over-the-counter medications for cold and flu should be enough to ease symptoms.
Sleep is also vital, ensuring you rest and relax is key to any recovery.
Antibiotics also don't help the condition as it is viral rather than bacterial.
Drink lots, rest well, and take basic painkillers and you'll feel right as rain in no time.
You can avoid it by trying to avoid busy places and keeping a strict hygiene rule with hand washing, and using tissues if you need to wipe your nose or mouth.