Infectious Exanthems Exanthematous disorders are numerous, and commonly encountered, because they have many similarities, often a source of clinical confusion. In establishing a diagnosis, the clinician should not only attend to the basic character of the exanthem but also to…
The common cold is an acute viral infection of the upper respiratory tract in which the symptoms of rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction are prominent. Systemic symptoms and signs such as headache, myalgia, and fever are absent or mild. The common…
Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the most frequent cause of the common cold in both adults and children. Although HRVs were once thought to cause only the common cold, it is now known that they are also associated with lower respiratory…
Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are a common cause of human disease. Conjunctivitis is a familiar illness associated with the HAdVs, but these viruses also cause upper and lower respiratory disease, pharyngitis, gastroenteritis, and hemorrhagic cystitis. HAdVs can cause severe disease in…
Description of Pathogen Human metapneumovirus (HMPV, MPV) was first described in 2001 by Dutch investigators who collected a number of unidentified virus isolates over a 20-year period. Electron micrograph and biochemical studies of the virus showed that it was pleomorphic…