[Observation and care of children with epilepsy: all personnel should participate in observations].
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Child↗
Biomedical subjects
B Winther
Publications and source records attributed to B Winther.
Viral-induced rhinitis.
Upper respiratory viruses cause self-limited illness characterized by acute rhinitis. In rhinovirus colds the symptoms are thought to be caused by the host response rather than viral damage of the nasal epithelium. Rhinovirus triggers an inflammatory cascade, evidenced by the presence of inflammatory mediators (e.g., IL-8) and proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., kinins) in nasal secretions, which results in symptomatic illness. In contrast to rhinovirus and coronavirus, which do not cause discernible epithelial damage, influenza virus and adenovirus do damage the nasal epithelium. Appropriate antiviral therapy will depend on the causative virus. Treatment of rhinovirus colds may require an antiviral agent (e.g., interferon alpha) in combination with antiinflammatory medication.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
Study of bacteria in the nasal cavity and nasopharynx during naturally acquired common colds.
It was the purpose of this study to examine whether the number of bacteria in the nose and nasopharynx changes during a common cold. Samples for bacteriological culture were taken from the nasal cavity of 29 and from the nasopharynx of 26 adult patients with naturally acquired colds. The bacteriological samples were taken on days 2, 4, 8 16, 32 and 64 after the first nasal symptoms. The results showed that there were few pathogenic bacteria in the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. There was no tendency to an increase in the number of positive cultures during the cold, although most patients had macroscopically purulent discharge on days 3-5. In conclusion, the study indicates that during an uncomplicated common cold, a bacterial infection is not responsible for the occurrence of purulent nasal discharge which may be a direct consequence of the viral infection.
Adult↗
Light and scanning electron microscopy of nasal biopsy material from patients with naturally acquired common colds.
As our knowledge of the histopathology of common colds is very limited, we have undertaken a blind quantitative examination by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy of 56 nasal biopsies, taken from 29 volunteers with naturally acquired colds. In agreement with earlier reports we found evidence of sloughing of epithelial cells, but in contrast to in vitro experiments, this did not result in a destruction of the epithelial lining, which by and large remained continuous, with structurally normal cell borders. There was a significant increase in the number of neutrophils, both in epithelium and in lamina propria, already on the 2nd day of the disease, and the hypothesis is advanced that the virus infection itself is the cause of the local neutrophilia. The only other abnormality demonstrated was an increased number of extracellular erythrocytes in the acute stage. The histological picture was not suggestive of an involvement of epithelial mast cells in the inflammation.
Adult↗
The therapeutic effectiveness of ibuprofen on the symptoms of naturally acquired common colds.
The pathogenesis of the common cold is associated with inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane with polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs)(1,2) and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and mediators in nasal secretions.(3,4) We have investigated the effect of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen, 400 mg three times daily, in a placebo-controlled trial of 80 adults with naturally occurring common colds. Ibuprofen caused a significant reduction of headache (p = 0.008), earache (p = 0.01), muscle/joint pain (p = 0.045), and reduced body temperature (p = 0.02). There was a 40% reduction in the number of sneezes (p = 0.02) and a 33% reduction in the symptom score for sneezing (p = 0.04). This study did not detect any effect on other nasal symptoms.
Adult↗
Immunological barriers in the nose and paranasal sinuses.
This review deals mainly with lymphocyte subsets in the human nasal mucosa, and with the common cold. Lymphocytes have recently been characterized in biopsy specimens by an immuno-histochemical method (the avidin-biotin, monoclonal antibody peroxidase technique). In summary, the overall T:B cell ratio was 3:1 and that of T helper cells to T suppressor was 2.5:1; topographical differences within the nasal mucosa were identified. Non-specific defence systems, such as interferon, provide some protection against rhinovirus infection, but most important is the presence of specific antibodies against a given antigenic type of virus. Recent results have suggested that a rhinovirus infection does not cause a marked destruction of the epithelial lining, that it is spotty in the nasal mucosa, and that it is most prominent in the nasopharynx. Increased knowledge about the site of infection and how symptoms are produced is essential for a rational approach to the development of anti-viral therapy.
Common Cold↗