Perfil clínico e epidemiológico de pacientes com adenovírus diagnosticados em hospital pediátrico terciário no Rio de Janeiro: uma série de casos

Abstract

Adenovirus infections represent a significant cause of viral morbidity in childhood, with respiratory, gastrointestinal, and ocular manifestations, and increased severity in children with comorbidities. This observational and descriptive study aimed to characterize the clinical and epidemiological profile of pediatric inpatients with a positive adenovirus result by PCR in nasal secretions at a tertiary hospital in Rio de Janeiro, from March to November 2025. Nine out of 242 tested patients were included, aged 2 to 7 years, with a predominance of males (77.8%). Diagnoses were concentrated between June and September, with a median symptom duration of 3 days until sample collection. Fever and respiratory symptoms were the most frequent (88.8%), followed by gastrointestinal symptoms (33.3%) and ocular, neurological, or urinary manifestations (11.1% each). Chest radiographs showed abnormalities in 44.4% of cases, while 88.8% of patients had at least one comorbidity. Three patients (33.3%) required admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), including one case requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. One patient presented a coinfection with Influenza A, with no concurrent bacterial infection detected. The results indicate a low incidence of adenovirus (3.7%) among tested patients, but with potential for severe complications in children with multiple comorbidities. The temporal distribution suggests multiple seasonal peaks, possibly influenced by post-COVID-19 pandemic changes. These findings highlight the importance of clinical and laboratory surveillance of adenovirus in vulnerable pediatric populations.