Medical expert of the article
New publications
Diagnosis and treatment of rhinovirus infection
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Diagnosis of rhinovirus infection
Rhinovirus infection is diagnosed on the basis of abundant mucous discharge from the nose, maceration of the skin in its vestibule, mild ailment and coughing at normal or subfebrile body temperature. Of great importance are epidemiological data on similar diseases in people surrounding the child.
For laboratory confirmation, virus isolation is used on tissue culture. For rapid diagnosis, the immunofluorescence method is used to detect antigen in the epithelial cells of the inferior nasal concha.
Differential diagnostics
Rhinovirus infection differentiates with other ARVI, allergic rhinitis, foreign body in the nasal cavity.
Allergic rhinitis usually occurs again in the spring during the flowering of plants, is not accompanied by other symptoms and is well treatable with antihistamines.
Abundant discharge from the nose is also possible when a foreign body enters the nasal cavity. However, the discharge in these cases is from one half of the nose, they are mucopurulent, often with an admixture of blood. The general condition does not deteriorate.
Treatment of rhinovirus infection
Treatment of rhinovirus infection is predominantly symptomatic. To improve nasal breathing, instillation of vasoconstrictives into the nasal cavity is indicated: 1 or 2% solution of ephedrine hydrochloride, 0.05% solution of naphthysine or galazoline, boron-adrenaline drops 1-2 drops in each nasal passage 3 times / day. Showing a warm drink, hot foot baths, with a headache give paracetamol (Children's Panadol) at a dose of 15 mg / kg of the child's body weight, antihistamines (suprastin, tavegil), calcium gluconate. On the 1st day of the disease, leukocyte interferon-alpha can be sprayed into the nasal passages. In more severe cases, immunocorrectors (arbidol, anaferon baby, kagocel, amixin, gepon), as well as erespal, aflubin, and others are shown.
[