respiratory viruses

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

A leading cause of respiratory infections in infants, RSV is known for causing severe respiratory illness. It primarily affects children under two years of age and can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The virus spreads easily through respiratory droplets, and its symptoms include cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Significant morbidity and mortality are associated with RSV worldwide, especially in high-risk populations such as premature infants and those with underlying health conditions.

Pathogenesis

The process by which a virus causes disease, including how it replicates and damages host cells.

Epidemiology

The study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why.

Aerosol transmission

The spread of viruses through tiny droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

Fomite transmission

Indirect transmission of viruses via contaminated surfaces that individuals touch.

Rhinovirus

A non-enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that is a common cause of upper respiratory tract infections.

Cytokines

Signaling proteins released by the immune system that mediate inflammation and immune responses.

Syncytia

Cellular structures formed from the fusion of multiple cells, often associated with viral infections like RSV.

Glycoproteins

Proteins on the surface of viruses that facilitate entry into host cells.

Negative-sense RNA virus

A type of RNA virus whose genetic material must be converted to the positive strand before it can be translated into proteins.

Positively-sense RNA virus

A type of RNA virus with genetic material that can be directly translated into proteins by host cell ribosomes.

Vaccine development

The process of creating a vaccine to prevent infectious diseases, which can be complex for certain viruses.

Innate immunity

The body's first line of defense against pathogens, which includes physical barriers and immune responses.

Epidemiological burden

The impact of a disease on a population in terms of illness, death, and economic cost.

Rhinovirus

A non-enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that is a common cause of upper respiratory tract infections, particularly the common cold. Rhinoviruses are highly contagious and primarily spread through aerosol transmission or fomite transmission. They replicate optimally at cooler temperatures, which is why they tend to thrive in the nasal passages. Symptoms of rhinovirus infections include sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and sometimes fever. The virus typically leads to mild symptoms, but it can cause severe respiratory illness in individuals with underlying health conditions or weakened immune systems.

Viral replication

The process by which viruses reproduce inside host cells, often leading to cell death.