Spring virus prevention guide: attack and defense of rhinovirus

"A-choo!" The sound of sneezes in the office announced that the spring respiratory virus "carnival season" has arrived. My colleague Xiao Li complained: "I didn't catch a cold, why did I catch a cold again?" Zhang, whose husband is a respiratory physician, responded calmly: "My husband said that there are many patients with rhinovirus recently. Maybe you are infected with rhinovirus." There are many types of respiratory viruses. Next, let's take a look at rhinovirus, a common virus that was difficult to be discovered by ordinary medical institutions due to poor detection methods in the past. Now, with the continuous advancement of detection technology, it has attracted more and more attention from the medical community. Let's learn how to take scientific defense and smoothly get through the high incidence of colds in spring.

1. Rhinovirus: The ever-changing king of colds

Small in size, but powerful in power: Rhinoviruses are only 30 nanometers in diameter (about one-ten-thousandth the thickness of a human hair), yet they cause billions of colds worldwide each year.

Super disguise skills: 160+ subtypes, mutation speed is so fast that even Sun Wukong's 72 transformations cannot catch up, making the human immune system defenseless.

Hidden master: There are no symptoms for 1-3 days after infection, and when you let your guard down, it suddenly launches a "snot attack"!

2. Transmission route: the virus’s “invisible feet”

Contact transmission: Touch the elevator button and then rub your eyes and nose? The virus is like a "Trojan Horse", quietly breaking through the defense line!

Droplet transmission: A sneeze can spray 8 meters away, like a "human jet", and all the workstations in two rows are infected!

Aerosol transmission: In a confined space, the virus can remain suspended for several hours, and the office can instantly become a "virus incubator."

3. A thorough investigation of symptoms: the “gentle blow” of rhinovirus

The classic trifecta: runny nose, stuffy nose, and sneezing (with the added bonus of an itchy throat).

Exclusive for children: The probability of low fever increases by 50%, which may trigger sinusitis and otitis media.

Self-limiting setting: People with normal immunity will automatically pass the test in 5-7 days without the need to buy special medicine!

4. Why is spring the “golden time” for rhinoviruses?

Temperature difference trap: The temperature difference between day and night is large in spring, the blood vessels in the nasal mucosa "expand due to heat and contract due to cold", and the immunity is instantly "offline".

Crowd assists: School starts, spring outings are crowded, the virus takes a ride on droplets, and the transmission efficiency is +200%!

Environment: Dryness in the north = enhanced virus "suspension ability"; humidity in the south = survival time on the surface of objects extended to 48 hours!

5. Defense Guide: Build your "anti-virus shield"

Hand hygiene: Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds and say goodbye to the virus!

Forbidden areas on the face: eyes, nose and mouth are "virus VIP channels". Control your hands and don't touch them randomly. Remember not to "open a back door" for the enemy!

Ventilation tactics: Open the windows three times a day for 15 minutes each time to let the virus "go with the wind."

Upgrade immunity: balanced diet + moderate exercise. Vitamin D is a "natural armor" (it can also be synthesized by sun exposure!).

6. Treatment misunderstandings: Don’t fall into these pitfalls!

The theory that antibiotics are useless: Rhinovirus is the "big brother of the virus world", and antibiotics can only play a supporting role. If abused, they will attract "drug-resistant bacteria" as minions!

Vitamin C metaphysics: It won’t prevent colds, but it may shorten the course of the illness by 10% (better than nothing).

Folk remedy warning: Covering up sweat, drinking white wine to kill bacteria...these "secret recipes handed down from ancestors" will only make you feel worse!

Additional suggestions

Although rhinovirus is cunning, scientific protection is your "golden bell"! Wash your hands frequently, touch your face less, and ventilate more, and you can easily get rid of spring colds. Remember, the premise of enjoying the spring flowers is - don't let rhinovirus "kidnap" your nose!

Written by: Wang Ya, deputy chief physician, Zou Jingbo, chief technician, Sun Yu, trainee physician, Jiang Xuefei, deputy chief physician, Zhou Zongliang, deputy chief technician, Chongqing Yongchuan District Center for Disease Control and Prevention