Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University.
The term "killer cold virus" was applied to a new strain of Adenovirus termed
adenovirus 14 or Ad14 that appeared in several outbreaks (2005, 2007, 2008 and
2009-10 in Ireland) and that caused severe pneumonia and deaths in several
different groups of individuals. This term was used because, in most people,
adenoviruses cause symptoms of the common cold, not severe pneumonia or death.
Investigations done by state and city health authorities, the U.S. Air Force,
and CDC during several outbreaks showed that Ad14 is a rarely reported but
emerging serotype of adenovirus that can cause severe and sometimes fatal
respiratory disease in anyone, including healthy adults. Fortunately, Ad 14
infections are uncommon and most infections from Ad14 strains are not serious;
the severe or fatal outcomes from Ad14 are relatively rare. However, the
appellation of "killer cold virus" has stuck with the Ad14 strain of Adenovirus.
This virus was first identified in the 1950s when Adenoviruses were first
isolated from human adenoids (Adenovirus named after adenoids). The number 14 of
Ad14 represents the antigenic makeup of the strain; currently, there are at
least 52 strains (antigenically distinct) that are distinguished by immunologic
techniques. These viruses have a double-stranded DNA that is easily modified in
lab experiments and apparently can undergo changes in the environment that may
change Ad14's ability to infect cells and cause disease. The Ad14 strain is
infrequently reported or encountered, while Ad4 and Ad7 strains are the most
widespread Adenovirus strains (account for about 80% of adenoviral infections).
What are symptoms and signs of an Adenovirus 14 infection?
Adenovirus 14 infections usually begin with cold symptoms such as a cough,
"runny nose," and mild fever and possibly throat irritation. The majority of
infected people have these symptoms for several days (about three to five days), and
then the infection clears without any medical treatment. However, with some
individuals, infection with the adenovirus 14 strain (and rarely a few other
strains such as 3, 7, 21, 30) progresses past the three to five days to cause additional
symptoms. These symptoms may include diarrhea,
bronchitis, eye infections,
bladder infection, rash, high fevers, pneumonia, and shortness of breath (dyspnea).
Although infection with Ad14 has been found in a few isolated individuals, most
recent outbreaks have occurred with groups of individuals living in close
contact. For example, the 2007 outbreak occurred in a military installation in
San Antonio, TX, while the 2008 outbreak was in a small community in Alaska. A
group of individuals that appears very ill (require hospitalization) due to
respiratory problems, and are likely due to a "virus," should make clinicians
suspect Ad14 as a possible cause of infection.
The word "rash" means an outbreak of red bumps on the body. The way people use this term, "a rash" can refer to many different skin conditions. The most common of these are scaly patches of skin and red, itchy bumps or patches all over the place.
Pneumonia is inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. Pneumonia is frequently but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses or mechanical causes (such as mouth breathing) and can be treated successfully at home. However, a person should be seen by a health care professional if they have a sore throat that has a rapid onset, and is associated with a fever or tenderness of the front of the neck; a sore throat that causes the person to have difficulty swallowing (not just pain swallowing) or breathing; or if a sore throat lasts for more than a week.
Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
Strep throat is a sore throat caused by a bacterium called streptococcus (strep) that can be treated through antibiotics. Common symptoms of strep throat include pinkeye, runny nose, skin rash, cough, hoarseness, diarrhea and more. Complications of untreated strep throat include middle ear infections, meningitis, pneumonia, rheumatic fever, and more.
Bronchitis is a disease of the respiratory system in which the bronchial passages become inflamed. There are two types of bronchitis, acute and chronic. Symptoms of acute bronchitis include frequent cough with mucus, lack of energy, wheezing, and possible fever. Treatment may require medication such as bronchial inhalers and predinsone. Supportive treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms with fever reducers, cough suppressants, and rest. Treatment may be more aggressive in patients with pre-existing conditions such as empyema, COPD, or cigarette smoking.
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
E. coli is the most common cause of bladder infections. Bladder infection symptoms and signs include frequent urination, burning urination, and foul smelling urine. Mild bladder infections may go away by increasing one's intake of fluid. More severe infections may be treated with a few days of antibiotics.
The common cold (viral upper respiratory tract infection) is a contagious illness that may be caused by various viruses. Symptoms include a stuffy nose, headache, cough, sore throat, and maybe a fever. Antibiotics have no effect upon the common cold, and there is no evidence that zinc and vitamin C are effective treatments.
Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. The flu may be prevented with an annual influenza vaccination.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious viral infection. Symptoms include fever and nasal congestion and discharge. Treatment focuses on supportive care.
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