What is Human Rhinovirus (HRV)?

From the Guidelines

Human rhinovirus is a common cause of viral upper respiratory tract infections, accounting for approximately 50% of common colds, and it enters the body via the nose or lacrimal duct, attaching to ICAM-1 receptors on epithelial cells in the posterior nasopharynx 1.

Key Characteristics of Human Rhinovirus

• It is a small, non-enveloped virus with a single-stranded RNA genome belonging to the Picornaviridae family.
• There are over 160 different types of rhinoviruses, which explains why people can get multiple colds throughout their lifetime.
• Human rhinovirus primarily infects the upper respiratory tract, though some strains can also affect the lower respiratory tract.
• Symptoms typically include nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, cough, and sometimes headache or low-grade fever.
• The virus spreads through respiratory droplets when infected people cough or sneeze, or through contact with contaminated surfaces followed by touching the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Clinical Implications and Management

• Treatment is generally supportive, focusing on symptom relief with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and fever.
• Rhinovirus infections are usually self-limiting, resolving within 7-10 days without specific antiviral treatment.
• People with asthma or other respiratory conditions may experience more severe symptoms when infected with rhinovirus, as it can trigger exacerbations of these underlying conditions.
• Human rhinovirus does not cause major epithelial damage but can have a substantial suppressive effect on neutrophil, macrophage, and lymphocyte function, making patients more vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections 1.

From the Research

Definition and Characteristics of Human Rhino Virus

• Human rhinoviruses (HRV) are non-enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses of the genus Rhinovirus in the family Picornaviridae 2.
• They are the most common causative agents of acute diseases of the upper respiratory tract, such as the common cold 2, 3.
• HRV can also cause acute lower respiratory tract illness, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia 2, 4.

Symptoms and Complications

• HRV infections can be mild and self-limiting in immunocompetent hosts, but can be associated with severe complications in certain individuals, such as:
  • Bronchiolitis in infants 3, 4.
  • Pneumonia in the immunosuppressed 3, 4.
  • Exacerbations of pre-existing pulmonary conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2, 3, 4.

Treatment and Prevention

• The treatment of HRV-induced diseases is usually symptomatic and supportive, with no generally recommended antiviral therapy available 2.
• Strict adherence to suitable hygiene measures can reduce the risk of acquiring an HRV infection 2.
• There is currently no licensed vaccine for rhinovirus, due to the large variety of rhinovirus serotypes 3.
• Researchers are exploring antiviral drugs and small molecule inhibitors of rhinovirus infection as potential therapeutic approaches 3.