Rhinovirus: More than Just a Common Cold Virus

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Abstract
The rhinoviruses were first isolated 50 years ago from individuals with common cold symptoms. Subsequent studies have defined the epidemiology and clinical implications of these infections. Rhinovirus infections occur year round with seasonal peaks of incidence in the early fall, usually September to November, and again in the spring from March to May. During these periods of increased incidence, up to 80% of common cold illnesses may be associated with a documented rhinovirus infection [1]. The characteristic clinical syndrome associated with rhinovirus infection is the common cold, and the rhinoviruses are responsible for at least 50% of these illnesses. Although common colds are of little direct medical consequence, they are associated with enormous cost to society in the form of missed school and work and unnecessary medical care. The medical implications of rhinovirus infection are not, however, limited to the common cold. One-third of children with acute otitis media have evidence of concurrent rhinovirus infection, including 25% who have evidence of virus in the middle ear fluid [2]. Some of these children also have bacteria isolated from the middle ear, suggesting that rhinovirus infection may cause otitis media directly or by predisposing to bacterial infection. Sinusitis is less well studied, but it seems likely that rhinovirus may play a similar role in this syndrome. A study of young adults with uncomplicated common colds found that most had involvement of the sinuses detectable by computed-tomography scanning and that these abnormalities resolved in all cases without antibacterial treatment [3].

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