An Overview of Rhinovirus
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The common cold virus
How does it spread? Why does it cause the sniffles? What the heck is a rhinovirus? All that information is here!
Rhinovirus image by David Umberger
Contents at a Glance
How it spreads
It attacks the respiratory system
Rhinovirus comes from "rhino" meaning "nose" - it is a virus that infects the nasal passages and upper respiratory system. Read more about the respiratory system.Because of its ability to infect this area of the body and to spread via aerosol droplets, the virus is expelled in sneezes and coughs. Using Kleenex or the crook of your sleeve will prevent spreading the virus to others around you! It also means that you should wash your hands regularly during cold season to prevent bringing the virus from a contaminated object to your face!
- The Spread of the Common Cold: How Rhinovirus Infects Humans
- Most colds are caused by rhinoviruses, which are spread by coughing and sneezing and infect the nasal airway.
A type of Picornavirus
Rhinovirus is part of the Picornaviridae family of viruses. Other types of picornaviruses cause other common diseases.
- Picornavirus overview at Medscape
- The Picornaviridae family (picornaviruses) causes a wider range of illnesses than most other, if not all, virus families.
- Picorna Virus
- From Human Virology at Stanford
- Cornell virus library
- Microscopic pictures of viruses, including rhinovirus
Symptoms of rhinovirus infection
- Irritation of the upper respiratory system - Sneezing, coughing
- Irritation of the sinuses - Sinus congestion, runny nose (aka rhinorrhea), itchy eyes
- Consequences of irritated sinuses - Sore throat (from the postnasal drip)
- In children - fever
Prevent spreading rhinovirus
KLEENEX Facial Tissue Pocket Packs 3-Ply White 10 Sheets/Pack 8 Packs
Be sure to use something to catch the sneeze, then toss it in the trash and wash your hands! Having tissues with you during cold season is a must, or use the crook of your sleeve (i.e. sneeze into your bent elbow) as advised by the CDC.
How do YOU treat a cold?
What treatments do you find useful or comforting when you're down and out with a cold?
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OUTFOXprevention Mar 11, 2012 @ 3:12 am | delete
- Great information. Prevention is important!
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Using Zinc against rhinovirus
Since the 1970s, studies have shown that zinc ions prevent rhinovirus replication, but what type of zinc is effective for fending off a cold? And does it work against other types of cold that aren't caused by rhinovirus?
The answer is unclear. The effectiveness depends on how well the zinc ions are released from whatever form they are taken in, such as lozenges. Zinc nasal sprays have been taken off the market because they ruin the person's sense of smell by damaging the lining inside the nose. Though clearly zinc lozenges are the best current option, the exact dose in a lozenge is debatable - and what works is unclear. Also, if the cold isn't caused by rhinovirus, it might not work because zinc ions inhibit a specific receptor that binds to rhinovirus, not necessarily to all cold viruses.
Read more about zinc and the common cold.
More information about the common cold
Click here for more tips for getting rid of a cold and beating rhinovirus
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The common cold in the news
- War of the sexes alive, if not well, in man-flu survey
- They noticed that young women enjoyed a stronger immune response than their male counterparts to rhinoviruses that were responsible for the common cold. The differences disappeared after menopause, suggesting to the researchers from the University of ...
- Infant Colds Don't Boost Asthma Risk
- Children with wheezing had an average of four human rhinovirus infections (the cause of the common cold) in their first year, compared with an average of five among children without wheezing. Kids with wheezing illness at age 4 were more likely to have ...
- Zinc supplements may shorten the common cold
- The issue of whether zinc could reduce the duration of the common cold has been studied for a few decades. This analysis reviewed the evidence published since the mid-80s and in the end, after evaluating 17 randomized controlled trials of oral zinc ...
- Zinc May Shorten Cold But May Cause Side Effects
- A new study supports previous findings that suggest zinc may shorten the duration of the common cold in adults; however, side effects may be common. Zinc is necessary for the functioning of more than 300 different enzymes and plays a vital role in a ...
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