There were several adults who were quite ill with adenovirus recently. So, let's learn a little bit about adenoviruses. The adenoviruses are DNA viruses, with 47 serotypes causing human infections. Adenoviruses also cause lower respiratory tract disease such as bronchitis and pneumonia. They also may cause lobar pneumonia, with or without effusion, that mimics bacterial pneumonia.
Adenoviruses also cause diarrhea, either alone, or in combination with respiratory disease.
The serotypes 40 and 41 are known as the enteric adenoviruses , but serotypes 31 and 2 also are associated with diarrheal illness. Hemorrhagic cystitis also can be caused by adenoviruses. They also can cause prolonged fever of several weeks duration. Maculopapular rashes also accompany many adenoviral illnesses. Other illnesses associated with adenoviruses include myocarditis, hepatitis, meningoencephalitis, and transverse myelitis.