In chronic or latent infection, a much smaller number of viruses are released and healthy cells can multiply more rapidly than they are destroyed. People who have this kind of infection don't seem to be sick. This is probably why many adults have immunity to adenoviruses without realizing they have been infected. In children, adenoviruses most often cause acute upper respiratory infections with fever and runny nose. Occasionally more serious lower respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia , may occur.
Adenoviruses also cause acute pharyngoconjunctival fever in children.
This disease is most often caused by types 3 and 7. Adenoviruses also cause acute diarrhea in young children, characterized by fever and watery stools. This condition is caused by adenovirus types 40 and 41 and can last as long as two weeks. The symptoms typically last three to five days. This inflammation of tissues lining the eyelid and covering the front of the eyeball can also be caused by using contaminated contact lens solutions or by drying the hands or face with a towel used by someone who has this infection.