Disease
Rhinovirus Infection

Author
Nina Mezu, BIOL 230, Spring 2009

Causative Agents
Rhinoviruses are commonly described as non-enveloped, single stranded RNA genome viruses. They are relatively small in size and have icosahedra (def) shaped capsid made up of viral proteins VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4. Rhinoviruses belong to the family Picornaviridae. They grow at a size of 28 nanometers to 32 nanometers (def). Rhinovirus grows best during temperatures 33-35 degrees and is sensitive to acidic environment.
Epidemiology

Rhinoviruses infections occur all around the world. Rhinovirus is known to be the main cause of the common cold. The virus is at its peak between August- October and throughout spring. School-aged children are found to acquire these virus infections more than adult and adolescents. While school aged children get up to 12 colds a year, adult and adolescents may have as much as 6-8 colds a year. It is also said that infections of the rhinovirus tend to decline with age as our body builds up a stronger immune system.

Being there are 100 serotypes (def) known of Rhinovirus, some serotypes can stay in a particular community for long periods of time. According to virology-online.com, some serotypes can also disappear from those communities. What has been found recently is that high-strained serotypes are infection more people than low-strained serotypes.
Transmission

There are over 100 serotypes of rhinovirus that cause many infections in humans to date. The two common ways to transmit rhinovirus infections human-to-human: by contact of contaminated surfaces or aerosol of respiratory fluid through oral-to-oral route. When transmitted, the infections primary inoculation site is in the nasal mucosa (def) while the conjunctiva (def) does not play a major role in rhinovirus infection presence.

Emedicine.com says infection rates are 50% within your own home while outside ranges form 0-50%. The incubation period of the viral infection is 2-4 days. Children are more susceptible to getting these viral infections because their immune system has not developed enough antibodies yet.
Signs and Symptoms

Among the different serotypes of Rhinovirus, the common cold is not the only disease caused by this virus infection. The other diseases caused by different serotypes are different upper respiratory infections and rare lower respiratory infections.

Common Cold
One may experience symptoms such as nose dryness which leads to watery rhinorrhea (def), malaise (def), fever, headache and coughing as well. While symptoms take a week to dissipate, in infants and children it can take up to twice as long.

Acute otitis media
These commonly happen as viral URIs are present. AOM (def) causes mucosal inflammation in the respiratory system leading to hindrance inside the Eustachian tube. AOM can be found inside the middle ear or nasopharynx.

Other signs and symptoms
Other signs and symptoms that may be individuals because of RV are sinusitis (def), triggered asthma attacks , LRIs (def), Croup (def), acute nasopharyngitis (def), and Cystic fibrosis (def).
Prevention and Treatment

There is no vaccine to cure the common cold or other infection caused by Rhinovirus. However, there are many supportive cautionary measures to be taken such as maintaining good hygiene (washing hands, drinking plenty of fluids, etc.) , clean environments ( using Lysol or any phenol-alcohol based products to disinfect.) and working towards better health by taking decongestants and getting sufficient amounts of rest. Also, it helps to stop smoking or drinking alcohol while ill.

Bibliography

Tolan Jr., Dr. Robert and Mai Ngoc Nguyen. Rhinovirus Infection. Jun 27 2008. EMedicine.com. Retrieved April 01, 2009 from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/971592-overview

MicrobeWiki. Rhinovirus. A Viral Biorealm page on genus Rhinovirus. Retrieved April 17 2009 from http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Rhinovirus#Description_and_Significa