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Microbiology · Respiratory RNA viruses

Rhinovirus !

  • Virus
  • Non-enveloped (naked)
  • Droplet
  • For completeness

The most frequent cause of the common cold. It grows best in the nose, which is cooler than the rest of the body.

Updated 2026-11-01

Also called: common cold virus

At a glance

Shape
Icosahedral
Genome
Single-stranded, positive-sense RNA
Envelope
Non-enveloped (naked)
Family
Picornaviridae, genus Enterovirus (rhinovirus species A, B and C)
Size
About 30 nm

Morphology

  • Small naked capsid
  • Acid-labile, unlike the other enteroviruses, so it does not survive the stomach
  • More than 150 types, which rules out a practical vaccine

Transmission

  • Contaminated hands touching the nose or eyes
  • Respiratory droplets
  • Contaminated surfaces

Reservoir: Humans

Isolation precautions

What the care team adds to standard precautions.

Droplet
Surgical mask within about a metre; single room.

Virulence factors

  • Most use ICAM-1 as the receptor on nasal epithelium
  • Replicates best at about 33 °C, the temperature of the nasal mucosa
  • Symptoms come mostly from the inflammatory response (bradykinin, cytokines)

Diseases it causes

Clinical picture

  • Runny nose, congestion, sneezing, sore throat and cough
  • Low or no fever; symptoms peak at 2 to 3 days
  • Triggers asthma attacks and COPD exacerbations
  • Can be complicated by bacterial otitis media or sinusitis

Diagnosis

  • Clinical diagnosis
  • RT-PCR on multiplex respiratory panels when needed

Treatment

Symptomatic care. There is no approved antiviral, and antibiotics do not work against colds.

Drug class only; doses and regimens are set by the clinician from the current guideline.

Prevention

  • Frequent handwashing
  • Cough etiquette and not touching the face
  • Droplet precautions in hospital (and contact if secretions are copious)

Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

Why does rhinovirus replicate in the nose rather than the gut?

It grows best at about 33 °C and is acid-labile, so it does not survive the stomach.

Which receptor do most rhinoviruses use?

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1).

Why is there no rhinovirus vaccine?

There are more than 150 types without useful cross-protection.

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Educational content on microorganisms; not a treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: About Common Cold (CDC, 2025); Appendix A: Type and Duration of Precautions Recommended for Selected Infections and Conditions (CDC, 2024).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.