Final answer:
Adenoviruses are the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, which can be severe in this demographic. They also cause viral conjunctivitis but not herpetic conjunctivitis, papillomas, or oral herpes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adenoviruses are one of the most common etiologic agents of lower respiratory tract infection among infants and young children. These viruses are highly efficient at spreading through respiratory droplets and can survive on environmental surfaces for extended periods, making them particularly contagious to this age group. While in adults, infections are typically self-limiting and resemble the common cold, in infants and young children, these infections can be more severe and potentially life-threatening.
Adenoviruses can cause a variety of infections, one of which is viral conjunctivitis, while they do not cause herpetic conjunctivitis, papillomas, or oral herpes. The common cold, a mild viral respiratory infection, can be caused by a number of different viruses, including adenoviruses.