ABSTRACT
More than 50% of all common colds are caused by rhinoviruses. In infants and young children, human rhinovirus (HRV) is associated with many cases of acute otitis media and sinusitis. HRVs are members of the Picornaviridae family and positive-sense, single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses with icosahedral symmetry. Serotypes of HRVs are based on amino acid differences in the four capsid proteins. The pathogenesis of HRV infections is through infection of the upper respiratory tract. After deposition of HRV in the eye or nose, there is attachment to host cell epithelium. When tracheal epithelial cells were infected simultaneously with HRV and Streptococcus pneumoniae, there was increased adherence of the streptococci. However, HRV appears to disrupt tight junctions between cells, leading to increased vascular leakage and mucus secretion. Viruses, especially HRVs, result in an inflammatory reaction that results in mucociliary damage, impaired middle ear function, and increased mucus in the Eustachian tube.
