'Heartier than other viruses': Doctor alerts public to illness causing 'really bad sore throat' in his patients

Eric Sachinwalla, Jefferson Health's medical director of infection prevention and control, says adenovirus is flying under the radar despite causing widespread illness.

"Most patients who have had that really bad sore throat had adenovirus, a common virus that spreads throughout the year," he told Philadelphia Magazine.

Unlike flu and Covid which have specific treatments available, doctors rarely test for it. And there's no medication to combat adenovirus.

The virus is also particularly sneaky in its resilience, as standard soap and water or everyday household disinfectant won't kill it.

"It's pretty contagious because it's heartier than other viruses," Sachinwalla explained. "So it tends to live in the environment longer."

By hanging around on surfaces for extended periods, the virus spreads more easily through respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces, and even through stool.

You'll often see clusters of infections popping up in places where people are in close quarters together, like nurseries and military barracks, where the virus can spread rapidly from person to person.

But the symptoms of adenovirus remain remarkably varied because the virus attacks multiple parts of the body.

"You can experience everything from sore throat, runny nose, and cough to middle-ear infection, high fever and shortness of breath," Sachinwalla said. "It can even cause pink eye and diarrhoea."

It all comes down to which strain you've caught, and there are nearly 60 different types of adenovirus circulating.

Medical experts don't necessarily know which particular subtype is causing illness at any given time, making it even harder to track and predict what symptoms people might experience.

The good news is that most adenovirus infections are relatively mild, according to Public Health Scotland.

However, the health body warns that things can turn serious, particularly for older people or those with weakened immune systems who don't receive proper care.

Common symptoms to watch out for include cold and flu-like signs such as coughing, runny nose, fever and chills, along with sore throat, swollen glands, and ear infections.

More severe cases can lead to pneumonia, acute bronchitis, or gastroenteritis, causing stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Less frequently, the virus can cause bladder infections or even neurological conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord.