Pneumonia due to Adenovirus

Definition

Adenoviral is most frequently associated with upper respiratory tract syndromes, but can also cause pneumonia. Most adenovirus infections are self-limiting, although fatal infections can occur in immunocompromised hosts, neonates, and, occasionally, healthy children and adults. In children, adenoviruses cause approximately 10% of pneumonias.[1] The clinical characteristics of adenovirus pneumonia are similar to those of other pneumonias. In fatal cases there has been extensive pulmonary damage, with death occurring 2 to 3 weeks into the illness. Intravascular coagulopathy has also been a late feature of some cases, and a septic-shock picture has been described. Adenoviruses cause a particularly aggressive form of pneumonia in neonates, characterized by necrotizing bronchiolitis and alveolitis.[2]

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