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Causes and pathogenesis of rhinovirus infection
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Causes of rhinovirus infection
There are 113 known serovars of rhinoviruses, and cross-serological reactions have been identified between individual serovars. As a subgroup, rhinoviruses are included in the picornavirus group. Virions are 20-30 nm in diameter and contain RNA. Many properties of rhinoviruses are similar to those of enteroviruses. They reproduce well in human embryonic lung fibroblast cultures and in organ cultures of human and ferret tracheal epithelium. They are unstable in the environment.
Pathogenesis of rhinovirus infection
The entry point of infection is the nasal mucosa. Virus proliferation in the epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract leads to the emergence of a local focus of inflammation, which is accompanied by swelling of the mucous membrane, pronounced hypersecretion. In severe cases, the virus may penetrate from the primary localization site into the general bloodstream, causing viremia, which is clinically accompanied by general weakness, fatigue, muscle pain, etc. Due to the weakening of local protection, a bacterial infection may become active, which causes complications - otitis, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia.
At the site of the infection entry point (nasal cavity), there is edema and swelling of the mucous membrane, plethora and dilation of blood vessels, infiltration by lymphocytes and mononuclear cells, desquamation of the surface epithelium without significant necrobiosis. Hypersecretion of the mucous membrane is noted.