With the winter flu on the rise all over the UK, medics worry about more aggressive strains and viruses that may be harder to control.
The H3N2 “super flu” remains predominant in the community, causing health officials to warn of a potential worst-case scenario for the NHS. Now, however, some attention is shifting to other infections – in particular adenovirus – that some say are more resilient than other viruses. As the nation braces for a long, cold winter, respiratory diseases are once again on the rise.
Medics warn that adenovirus is lurking as a stealthy but highly infectious threat, and that the early symptoms of influenza and adenovirus can be similar, including coughs, fevers, and tiredness, making them difficult to distinguish at first. Adenovirus may also result in nasal congestion, sore throat, and stomach pain, so you can see why it can be confused with a common cold, and with the H3N2 strain that’s currently going around.
Since adenovirus is new to many, it has recently been dubbed a “mystery illness” because its symptoms seem to be so broad.
Knowing how it’s different from flu is useful for setting expectations, for not using antibiotics unnecessarily, and for knowing when to get checked out. As unease grows going into the festive season, Dr Deborah Lee of Dr Fox Online Pharmacy tells us the difference between adenovirus and the common cold so we can be more savvy about what we might be facing.
Speaking of the adenovirus, Dr Lee told Cosmopolitan, “It is spread from breathing in infected aerosol droplets, by inadvertently rubbing the virus directly into the eye, or via the faecal-oral route (not handwashing after using the toilet).
“It spreads rapidly in places where people are in close proximity.”
Ian Budd, lead prescribing pharmacist at Chemist4U, also weighed in, referring to it as a “fast spreading throat and respiratory bug” that is “showing up more often alongside other winter bugs.”
“These viruses aren’t new,” Budd explained. “But with multiple viruses circling right now, more people are noticing symptoms and heading to their GP.”
The thing is, however, that some patients tend to underestimate their symptoms and attribute them to the common cold or flu, even though the symptoms of adenovirus usually last longer and are more severe than those for most other viruses.
Dr Budd distinguishes between three key differences between adenovirus and the common flu that people should be aware of, especially those suffering from other medical conditions and whose health and immune systems are already compromised.
1) Fatigue
Fatigue and constant body ache is one of the main symptoms of the common flu. Most patients experience dull pains down their back, cramps down their legs, neck discomfort, and similar ailments.
Adenovirus on the other hand won’t usually leave people feeling extremely exhausted.
“Compared to the flu, adenovirus infections typically cause less intense body aches and fatigue,” Budd explained.
2) Pink eye
Adenovirus differs from other common viruses by affecting not only a person’s upper and lower respiratory tract but also other organ systems such as the eyes, the gastrointestinal system, and the kidneys.
In more serious adenovirus infections, patients can develop eye-related complications known as conjunctivitis, or pink eye. It’s an inflammation that can lead to discomfort, itchiness, feeling like there’s something in your eye, and excessive watering.
The common flu won’t affect the eyes.
3) Gastrointestinal issues
Adenovirus has been closely associated with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea, which can lead to more serious complications in vulnerable individuals.
Another indicator, according to Dr Lee, is that flu symptoms usually start suddenly and can be severe, while adenovirus symptoms tend to develop slowly.
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