Adenovirus is responsible for five percent of acute respiratory childhood illness and ten percent of infantile gasteroenteritis. Meningoencephalatis is a complication of respiratory adenovirus infection. Deaths may occur from adenovirus especially from infection by human adenovirus type 7. Diagnosis occurs through enzyme immunoassay, immunofluorescence techniques and virus isolation in cell cultures. Treatment and Therapy Antivirals have generally been ineffective against adenovirus infection.
Intravenous ribavirin is a potential treatment.
Adenovirus infection results in long-lasting immunity against the specific serotype. Maternal antibody is protective. Mucosal and intestinal immunity result. Vaccines are administered to the military but not available for general use because of concern about the live vaccine's oncogenic potential and the level of attenuation achieved in children. A DNA segment that codes for an enzyme or protein product that corrects a human genetic defect can be delivered to the host by an adenovirus vector.