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For informational purposes only — not medical advice
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How serious?
Risk of death
Yes
Vaccine available?
Time to symptoms
Countries affected
Active outbreaks
Not a specific travel risk. Practice hand hygiene. Avoid poorly chlorinated pools. Military personnel should verify adenovirus vaccination status before deployment to training facilities.
Common viral infections causing respiratory illness, conjunctivitis, and gastroenteritis, with military vaccine available for types 4 and 7.
Adenovirus infections are common viral illnesses caused by over 50 types of adenoviruses. They cause a range of conditions including respiratory infections, conjunctivitis (pink eye), gastroenteritis, and urinary tract infections. A vaccine is available for military personnel (types 4 and 7).
Adenoviruses are non-enveloped DNA viruses with over 50 recognized types that commonly cause mild, self-limiting infections, particularly in children. Different types have tropism for different tissues, resulting in diverse clinical presentations.\n\nCertain types cause epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (severe eye infection) and pharyngoconjunctival fever (swimming pool conjunctivitis). Types 4 and 7 cause outbreaks of acute respiratory disease in military recruits, for which a live oral vaccine is available. Adenoviruses are notably resistant to many common disinfectants.
Most common signs and symptoms
Symptoms vary by adenovirus type and site of infection.\n\nRespiratory (types 1–7): Fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose. Can progress to bronchitis or pneumonia.\n\nPharyngoconjunctival fever (types 3, 7): Fever, sore throat, and conjunctivitis — often associated with swimming pools.\n\nEpidemic keratoconjunctivitis (types 8, 19, 37): Severe eye pain, tearing, light sensitivity, blurred vision.\n\nGastroenteritis (types 40, 41): Watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever.\n\nHemorrhagic cystitis (types 11, 21): Blood in urine, painful urination.
Knowing the symptoms is the first step to a quick response.
Incubation period is 2–14 days depending on the adenovirus type and site of infection. Respiratory illness typically lasts 3–7 days. Conjunctivitis may persist for 1–4 weeks. Gastroenteritis lasts 5–12 days. Viral shedding may continue for weeks to months after symptoms resolve, particularly in stool.
How this disease is identified
PCR testing from respiratory secretions, stool, urine, or conjunctival swab is the most sensitive method. Rapid antigen detection tests are available for respiratory and enteric adenovirus types. Viral culture is also used. Serology is less useful for acute diagnosis. In most cases, specific viral testing is not necessary as treatment is supportive regardless of the causative virus.
Available treatment methods
Most adenovirus infections are self-limiting and require only supportive care: adequate hydration, rest, and fever-reducing medication as needed. There is no approved antiviral for routine adenovirus infections. Severe infections in immunocompromised patients may be treated with antiviral agents under specialist guidance. Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is managed with supportive eye care — artificial tears and cold compresses.
Most cases are effectively treated with early diagnosis.
How to protect yourself
Preparation is the best protection.
Statistics and geographic data
Adenoviruses circulate worldwide, year-round, with peaks in winter and spring for respiratory types and summer for conjunctivitis (associated with swimming pools). Common in daycare settings, schools, and military barracks. Enteric adenoviruses (types 40, 41) are the second most common cause of childhood viral gastroenteritis after rotavirus.
Who is most at risk
Potential complications
Complications are generally rare in healthy individuals. Immunocompromised patients can develop disseminated disease, severe pneumonia, hepatitis, and hemorrhagic cystitis. Neonatal adenovirus infection can cause severe liver damage. Post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans is a rare complication in children following severe adenovirus pneumonia. Intussusception has been reported in association with enteric adenovirus types.
Expected outcomes and recovery
Prognosis is excellent for immunocompetent individuals — most infections resolve within 5–10 days without complications. Adenovirus infections can be severe or fatal in immunocompromised patients (organ transplant recipients, individuals with HIV). In military recruit populations, adenovirus pneumonia can be serious if vaccination is not administered.
This disease is vaccine-preventable. Effective protection is available through vaccination.
Talk to a travel health specialist about the recommended schedule before your trip.
Find a vaccination clinic →The content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. If you have health concerns, consult a qualified healthcare professional. Medova is not a medical service provider.
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