Rhinovirus

Rhinoviruses are a group of viruses belonging to the Picornaviridae family, which are responsible for many upper respiratory infections, commonly known as the common cold.<ref>,

 Rhinovirus: more than just a common cold virus, 
 Journal of General Virology,</ref> There are more than 100 identified types of rhinovirus that contribute to seasonal epidemics worldwide.<ref>, 
 Human Rhinoviruses, 
 Emerging Infectious Diseases,</ref>

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Characteristics

Rhinoviruses are small, icosahedral viruses composed of a single-stranded RNA genome. They are non-enveloped and possess positive-sense RNA.<ref>,

 Structure and replication of the human rhinovirus, 
 Reviews in Medical Virology,</ref> There are three species of rhinoviruses: Rhinovirus A, Rhinovirus B, and Rhinovirus C, each containing numerous individual serotypes.<ref>, 
 Rhinovirus species and their antigenic types, 
 Journal of Clinical Microbiology,</ref>

Disease

Rhinoviruses are the most common viral infective agents in humans, and are the predominant cause of the common cold. Symptoms of a rhinovirus infection include sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and sometimes accompanied by headache, muscle aches, fatigue, malaise, and loss of appetite.<ref>,

 Rhinovirus infections: Clinical characteristics and disease mechanisms, 
 Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal,</ref> While these infections are usually mild, they can lead to severe disease in people with weakened immune systems, the elderly, and those with chronic respiratory diseases.

Transmission

Rhinoviruses are spread through the air and close personal contact. They can also be spread by touching an object or surface with the virus on it and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes.<ref>,

 Transmission of rhinovirus colds by self-inoculation, 
 New England Journal of Medicine,</ref>

Prevention and Treatment

Prevention of rhinovirus infection is by good personal hygiene, including hand washing, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, and not touching the face with unwashed hands. There is no specific treatment for rhinovirus infection. Management involves relieving symptoms such as fever and aches with over-the-counter medications, drinking plenty of fluids, and getting plenty of rest.<ref>,

 Treatment of the common cold with unrefined echinacea: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 
 Annals of Internal Medicine,</ref>

Research

Research into more effective treatments and potential vaccines for rhinovirus infections is ongoing. Due to the large number of rhinovirus serotypes, creating a vaccine has been challenging.<ref>,

 Rhinovirus vaccines: the door remains open, 
 Journal of Infectious Diseases,</ref>

See also

• Common cold
• Picornaviridae
• Virus

Further reading

• Viral replication
• RNA virus
• Viral evolution

External links

• CDC - Cold versus flu
• Mayo Clinic - Common Cold