Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Rare Manifestation of Rhinovirus Infection

Human rhinovirus (HRV) is a common cause of respiratory infections. HRV-related lower respiratory tract infections, including community-acquired pneumonia, are seldom seen in the clinical setting, and progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is even rarer. We report on a case of a young immunosuppressed host who presented to the hospital for respiratory distress. She was diagnosed with HRV-related pneumonia, which rapidly progressed to ARDS based on clinical examination. After orotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation with a low tidal volume strategy, she made a rapid recovery. This case highlights the importance of understanding that HRV may be an etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in immunosuppressed hosts and that ARDS may be a complication of this infection. Rapid recognition and clinical suspicion are important to the care of these patients, as ARDS has a high mortality rate.