What is rhinovirus?

A rhinovirus is a tiny germ that makes your nose feel sneezy and runny, just like when you have a cold.

Imagine your nose is like a little house. A rhinovirus is like a tiny intruder who comes in through the front door, maybe when you touch something with germs on it and then touch your face. Once inside, the virus starts to cause trouble by making your nose feel tickly and full of mucus, which makes you sneeze or blow your nose.

The rhinovirus is super sneaky, it can spread when someone with a cold coughs or sneezes near you, or when you share toys, drinks, or even hand towels at school. You might not even notice the virus coming in until your nose starts to feel all wobbly and runny.

When the rhinovirus is inside your body, it tricks your nose into thinking there's something funny going on, like a tiny party that makes you sneeze and sniffle. That’s why you might feel like a little superhero with a runny nose, blowing it all over the place!