In a case presenting with rhinorrhea and a dry cough in an 11-year-old boy, what is the likely diagnosis if he has a history of asthma?

In this scenario, the most likely diagnosis is pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Pertussis is characterized by a paroxysmal cough, which can present with an initial stage of symptoms similar to a common cold, including rhinorrhea (runny nose) and dry cough. In children with a history of asthma, the dry cough may be particularly evident due to the increased sensitivity of the airways.

The prominence of a dry cough, which can progress to more severe coughing spells, aligns well with pertussis, especially in the context of a recent resurgence of the disease in various populations. It's also important to consider that pertussis can be severe in children, particularly those with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, as they may experience more significant respiratory distress.

Allergic rhinitis, while capable of causing rhinorrhea, typically does not result in a dry cough of the paroxysmal nature seen in pertussis. Viral bronchitis and atypical pneumonia could potentially have overlapping symptoms but are less characteristic when accounting for the specific combination of symptoms and the patient's asthma background, making pertussis the most fitting diagnosis in this case.