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Signs and Symptoms Depending on which part of the body is affected, the signs and symptoms of adenoviral infections vary: Febrile respiratory disease , which is an infection with fever of the respiratory tract, is the most common result of adenoviral infection in kids. The illness often appears flu- like and can include symptoms of pharyngitis ( inflammation of the pharynx, or sore throat), rhinitis (inflammation of nasal membranes, or a congested, runny nose), cough, and swollen lymph nodes (glands). Sometimes the respiratory infection leads to acute otitis media , an infection of the middle ear. Adenovirus often affects the lower respiratory tract as well, causing bronchiolitis , croup , or viral pneumonia, which is less common but can cause serious illness in infants. Adenovirus can also produce a dry, harsh cough that can resemble whooping cough ( pertussis) . Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and the small and large intestines. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, vomiting, headache, fever, and abdominal cramps. Urinary tract infections can cause frequent urination, burning, pain, and blood in the urine. Eye Infections: Conjunctivitis (or pinkeye) is a mild inflammation of the conjunctiva (membranes that cover the eye and inner surfaces of the eyelids). Symptoms include red eyes, discharge, tearing, and the feeling that there' s something in the eye. Pharyngoconjunctival fever , often seen in small outbreaks among school-age kids, occurs when adenovirus affects both the lining of the eye and the respiratory tract. Symptoms include very red eyes and a severe sore throat, sometimes accompanied by low- grade fever, rhinitis, and swollen lymph nodes. Keratoconjunctivitis is a more severe infection that involves both the conjunctiva and cornea (the transparent front part of the eye). This type of adenoviral infection is extremely contagious and occurs most often in older kids and young adults, causing red eyes, photophobia (discomfort of the eyes upon exposure to light), tearing, and pain.Contagiousness Adenovirus is highly contagious, as indicated by the occurrence of multiple cases in situations of close contact, such as childcare centers, schools, hospitals, and summer camps. The types of adenovirus that cause respiratory and intestinal infections spread from person to person through respiratory secretions ( coughs or sneezes) or fecal contamination. Fecal material can be ingested through contamination of water supplies, poor hand washing between the bathroom and the kitchen, eating food contaminated by houseflies, or poor hygiene after handling diapers. A child might also pick up the virus by holding hands or sharing a toy with an infected person. Indirect transmission can occur through exposure to the contaminated surfaces of furniture and other objects. The types of adenovirus causing conjunctivitis may be transmitted by water (in lakes and swimming pools), by sharing contaminated objects (such as towels or toys), or by touch. Once a child is exposed to adenovirus, symptoms can develop from 2 days to 2 weeks later.