ABSTRACT
ARS is most often viral in aetiology. As in adults, viral ARS or the ‘common cold’ is defined as
symptoms of rhinosinusitis for less than 10 days. Children can have six to 10 common colds each year compared to two or three per year in adults. The usual causative viral agents are:
● Rhinovirus (>50 per cent) ● Coronavirus (15-20 per cent) ● Adenovirus ● Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ● Influenza virus
This is defined as an increase in symptoms after 5 days or persistent symptoms after 10 days.
