Antibody levels begin to rise about a week after infection occurs and remain elevated for about a year. Treatment Treatment of adenovirus infections is usually supportive and aimed at relieving symptoms of the illness. Eye infections may benefit from topical corticosteroids to relieve symptoms and shorten the course of the disease. No effective antiviral drugs have been developed. Prognosis Adenovirus infections are rarely fatal.
Most patients recover fully.
Prevention Practicing good personal hygiene and avoiding people with infectious illnesses can reduce the risk of developing adenovirus infection. Proper handwashing can prevent the spread of the virus by oral-fecal transmission. Sterilization of instruments and solutions used in the eye can prevent the spread of EKC, as can adequate chlorination of swimming pools. A vaccine containing live adenovirus types 4 and 7 is used to control disease in military recruits, but it is not recommended or available for civilian use. Vaccines prepared from purified subunits of adenovirus are under investigation.