Severe Pneumonia and Adenovirus 14
- By Caren Jacobs
- Published December 5th, 2008
- Fitness
- Unrated
Recent studies show, a potentially deadly form of pneumonia being linked to adenovirus type 14 especially, around the regions of Pacific northwest. In the year 2005, the Oregon city encountered the very first case of this viral pneumonia which led to 20% fatality rate in the region. According to Dr. Paul Lewis, MD of Oregon State Public Health Department, the main reason behind this phenomena is believed to be lack of specific etiology in patients with severe disease. He also recommended that patients suffering from adenovirus 14 must anticipate a stormy course. Though, he encouraged patients with this disease to undergo infectious disease consultation to discuss the risks and benefits of any specific therapy.
Only when four patients got hospitalized in Portland that adenovirus 14 was finally recognized. After thorough investigation of various adenovirus 14 cases it was finally revealed that what appeared to be a winter-spring predominant adenovirus disease, was actually a serious illness. Patients suffering
from adenovirus 14 were isolated from other sick patients and sent to the CDC.
Investigators also took samples from specimens dating back to 1993 and found that almost every year there had been few cases of adenovirus disease. Hence, adenovirus 14 was finally identified as a serotype.
After much comparison and analysis it was found that adenovirus 14 mainly infect older men and smokers. But the most surprising fact about adenovirus 14 was the odd ration of 15.9 hospitalization cases with other adenovirus serotypes.
Some of the common clinical features in adenovirus 14 are:
Most patients were administered broad-spectrum antibiotics. In some of the cases patients underwent Chest x-rays and radiographic progression. Of the patients treated in ICU almost 13 required ventilator support and pressor drugs.
Therefore, the investigators involved in the study of adenovirus 14 revealed the scope of the disease is much larger and involve broad illness severity.
Only when four patients got hospitalized in Portland that adenovirus 14 was finally recognized. After thorough investigation of various adenovirus 14 cases it was finally revealed that what appeared to be a winter-spring predominant adenovirus disease, was actually a serious illness. Patients suffering
Investigators also took samples from specimens dating back to 1993 and found that almost every year there had been few cases of adenovirus disease. Hence, adenovirus 14 was finally identified as a serotype.
After much comparison and analysis it was found that adenovirus 14 mainly infect older men and smokers. But the most surprising fact about adenovirus 14 was the odd ration of 15.9 hospitalization cases with other adenovirus serotypes.
Some of the common clinical features in adenovirus 14 are:
- fever
- tachypnea
- hypoxia
- hypotension.
Most patients were administered broad-spectrum antibiotics. In some of the cases patients underwent Chest x-rays and radiographic progression. Of the patients treated in ICU almost 13 required ventilator support and pressor drugs.
Therefore, the investigators involved in the study of adenovirus 14 revealed the scope of the disease is much larger and involve broad illness severity.