Symposium on Rhinovirus Pathogenesis: Introduction

Abstract

Rhinovirus infection is the most common acute respiratory illness of man. Common colds occur on an average of two-four times per year in adults and six-ten times per year in children (Dingle et al, 1964; Gwaltney et al, 1967). Rhinovirus is responsible for at least one-third of these illnesses. The rhinovirus cold is a major cause of absence from school and work and is associated with large costs for physician visits and »over-the-counter« cold remedies. Colds are also associated with more serious secondary illnesses. In the Cleveland Family Study, 2.9070 of colds were complicated by sinusitis or otitis media and 0.7070 were associated with an exacerbation of asthma (Dingle et al, 1964).

In spite of its importance as a cause of illness in man very little is known about the patho-genesis of rhinovirus infection. This symposium was organized to review information on this topic, to report the results of a recent series of studies, and to develop an approach to the further investigation of this problem.