Rhinoviruses are a common cause of the common cold and bronchitis, and can trigger asthma. They spread easily through hand-to-hand contact and cannot reproduce in warmer parts of the body. There is no effective vaccine, but symptoms can be relieved with over-the-counter medications.
Rhinoviruses are a group of viruses belonging to the Picornaviridae family, the same family to which poliovirus belongs. It is a single-stranded, non-enveloped virus known to cause the common cold in humans. While there are other viruses that can cause common cold symptoms, rhinoviruses cause about 50 percent of them. In addition to causing the common cold, rhinoviruses are also associated with bronchitis and are known to trigger asthma.
Rhinoviruses spread easily from person to person, with the main route of transmission being hand-to-hand contact. From here, the person who becomes infected can touch their nose or inhale the rhinoviruses, allowing them to enter the upper respiratory tract. They multiply rapidly in tissue that is slightly below normal body temperature and have an incubation period of one to three days. Since there are over 100 different types of rhinoviruses, it has been impossible for researchers to develop an effective vaccine against them. However, 95% of individuals exposed to rhinoviruses become infected and 75% of these people become ill as a result.
While there are many home remedies to rid the body of rhinoviruses, none have been medically proven. Therefore, doctors recommend simply drinking plenty of fluids and resting to help rid the body of rhinoviruses. A variety of over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, and pain relievers, can be used to relieve symptoms.
Rhinoviruses cannot reproduce in warmer parts of the body, which is why they tend to stay in the upper respiratory tract. While some rhinoviruses work their way up to the lungs, the heat there makes it impossible for them to reproduce. Also, rhinoviruses become inactive when exposed to a low pH area.
While there are many different forms of rhinoviruses, they all affect the body in essentially the same way. Each of these rhinoviruses is only slightly different. Therefore, they are similar enough to cause the same symptoms, but different enough to bypass the body’s immune system. This is because the immune system creates defenses against viruses it has experienced in the past. With different rhinoviruses having slightly different compositions, the immune system does not recognize each type.
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