Adenovirus (AdV) is widely distributed in nature, and infections caused by AdV have been reported in countries or regions all over the world. Since AdV was first isolated in 1953, over 100 serotypes have been identified and classified into mammalian AdV and avian AdV. According to the ability to neutralize AdV in serum, human ade- novirus (HAdV) can be further classified into 71 serotypes, which can be divided into 7 subgroups (A-G) based on biological and immunological characteristics. AdV can infect the upper respiratory tract, lung, conjunctiva, urinary tract and gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation in the corresponding sites. In some cases, AdV can cause he-patitis, pancreatitis, nephritis, hemorrhagic colitis, hemorrhagic cystitis, and meningoencephalitis. AdV can also cause severe or even fatal infections in immunocompromised patients, posing a significant threat to human health. This article reviews the pathogenicity of HAdV in human body and discusses the various mechanisms by which HAdV causes disease. It also proposes future directions for the researches on the pathogenic mechanism and immune escape of HAdV, and outlines prospects for the development of new drugs against HAdV based on emerging research in this field.