VIRAL-INDUCED RHINITIS

Upper respiratory viruses cause self-limited illness characterized by acute rhinitis. In rhinovirus colds the symptoms are thought to be cau sed by the host response rather than viral damage of the nasal epithel ium. Rhinovirus triggers an inflammatory cascade, evidenced by the pre sence of inflammatory mediators (e.g., IL-8) and proinflammatory cytok ines (e.g., kinins) in nasal secretions, which results in symptomatic illness. In contrast to rhinovirus and coronavirus, which do not cause discernible epithelial damage, influenza virus and adenovirus do dama ge the nasal epithelium. Appropriate antiviral therapy will depend on the causative virus. Treatment of rhinovirus colds may require an anti viral agent (e.g., interferon or) in combination with antiinflammatory medication.