There is another bad virus going around that is not the flu. It has very similar symptoms of the flu and can potentially put you in the hospital. The virus is called adenovirus.
Most people are not vaccinated against adenovirus, and doctor’s offices do not test for it.
Adenovirus symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes but not always cough, stomach distress and breathing problems. Some strains cause eye infections. Unfortunately, there are 52 different strains.
Adriana Kajon, Ph.D, an infectious disease specialist at the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in Albuquerque, collected details of adenovirus infections between 2011 and 2015 at colleges, nursing homes and elsewhere.
Most patients who contract this virus do not suffer much, but she saw that in some cases, patients suffered excruciating consequences. A 43 year old woman in New York became infected in 2012. She quickly developed pneumonia and respiratory failure. During her hospital stay she suffered brain swelling and breathing and was put on a ventilator for more than a month.
Vaccinations for adenovirus are not commercially available yet, but the U.S. military vaccinates recruits against two major strains.
As with many viruses, there’s not a good treatment for adenovirus, although the antiviral cidofovir has helped some people with severe infections.
As with any sickness, you should be taking all pre cautions to eliminate the spreading of bacteria. Wash your hands, wipe down belongings, and cover your mouth when you cough. Get vaccinated if they are available to you. Vaccinations help prevent the spreading of virus’s like the flu and adenovirus.
To be prepared in crisis events like contracting a virus, make sure you are signed up for like and health insurance. Not only will it diminish the cost of doctor and hospital bills, it will also give you security knowing that if, god for bid, something did happen, you and your family are covered. Call Cosmo Insurance today to learn about plans that are perfect for you. 732-363-3888
