Rhinovirus infections, wheezing and asthma

Rhinovirus (RV) are best known as a common cold virus, but infections with these viruses are also major causes of lower respiratory morbidity in younger children and in children and adults with asthma.Cofactors related to the virus, the host and the environment modify the risk of more severe illness.There are three RV species, and the A and C viruses are most often associated with wheezing illnesses.Host factors that influence the risk of virus-induced wheeze include age, genetics, allergy and asthma and lung function.In addition, the airway microbiome influences the probability of RV wheeze, and RV wheezing illnesses are associated with changes microbial community composition that include increased detection of respiratory pathogens.Interestingly, the host and environmental cofactors that promote wheezing in infancy and in children and adults with asthma are similar.Identification of modifiable host and environmental risk factors for RV wheeze suggests that there are several therapeutic opportunities for prevention and treatment.