The rhinovirus (from the Ancient Greek: ῥίς, romanized: rhis "nose", gen ῥινός, romanized: rhinos "of the nose", and the Latin: vīrus) is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Enterovirus in the family Picornaviridae.

[1] The three species of rhinovirus (A, B, and C) include at least 165 recognized types that differ according to their surface antigens or genetics.

[5] In 1953, when a cluster of nurses developed a mild respiratory illness, Winston Price, from the Johns Hopkins University, took nasal passage samples and isolated the first rhinovirus, which he called the JH virus, named after Johns Hopkins.

[4] Rhinoviruses may be spread via airborne aerosols, respiratory droplets and from fomites (contaminated surfaces), including direct person-to-person contact.

[14] The seasonality may be due to the start of the school year and to people spending more time indoors thereby increasing the chance of transmission of the virus.

[15] Lower ambient temperatures, especially outdoors, may also be a factor given that rhinoviruses preferentially replicate at 33 °C (91.4 °F) as opposed to 37 °C (98.6 °F).

[4] The primary route of entry for human rhinoviruses is the upper respiratory tract (mouth and nose).

Rhinovirus A and B use "major" ICAM-1 (Inter-Cellular Adhesion Molecule 1), also known as CD54 (Cluster of Differentiation 54), on respiratory epithelial cells, as receptors to bind to.

[19] As the virus replicates and spreads, infected cells release distress signals known as chemokines and cytokines (which in turn activate inflammatory mediators).

Infection occurs rapidly, with the virus adhering to surface receptors within 15 minutes of entering the respiratory tract.

[20] Human rhinoviruses preferentially grow at 33 °C (91.4 °F), notably colder than the average human body temperature of 37 °C (98.6 °F), hence the virus's tendency to infect the upper respiratory tract, where respiratory airflow is in continual contact with the (colder) extrasomatic environment.

Valid index numbers are as follows:[2] Rhinoviruses have single-stranded positive sense RNA genomes of between 7200 and 8500 nucleotides in length.

[5] Several novel antiviral compounds have been tested in clinical trials without sufficient efficacy to progress to FDA approval.

Preventative measures such as regular vigorous handwashing with soap and water may aid in avoiding infection.

Avoiding touching the mouth, eyes, and nose (the most common entry points for rhinovirus) may also assist prevention.