What is the Difference Between Coronavirus and Rhinovirus?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Coronavirus and rhinovirus are both types of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses, but they have some key differences:
- Causative agents: COVID-19, a disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, is a more severe respiratory illness than the common cold, which is most often caused by rhinoviruses.
- Seasonality: Rhinoviruses are most active in early fall, spring, and summer, causing 10%-40% of colds. Coronaviruses tend to be more active in the winter and early spring, causing about 20% of colds.
- Symptom onset: The common cold usually has a shorter incubation period, with symptoms appearing 1 to 3 days after exposure to the virus. In contrast, COVID-19 symptoms typically appear in 2 to 14 days following exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
- Symptoms: Both the common cold and COVID-19 have overlapping symptoms, such as body aches, cough, runny nose, and sore throat. However, the loss of smell and/or taste is a distinctive symptom of COVID-19 infection.
- Clinical presentation, laboratory abnormalities, and outcomes: In the pediatric population, there are differences in clinical presentation, laboratory abnormalities, and outcomes between COVID-19 and rhinovirus infections. For example, patients with COVID-19 were older than those with rhinovirus infections in one study.
In summary, while coronaviruses and rhinoviruses both cause respiratory illnesses, they differ in their causative agents, seasonality, symptom onset, symptom presentation, and clinical outcomes.
Comparative Table: Coronavirus vs Rhinovirus
Here is a table comparing the differences between coronavirus and rhinovirus:
Feature | Coronavirus | Rhinovirus |
---|---|---|
Causative Agent | SARS-CoV-2 | Various human rhinovirus strains |
Primary Infection Site | Respiratory system | Respiratory system and upper respiratory tract |
Clinical Presentation | Fever, chills, cough, fatigue, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle pain or body aches, headache, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell | Cough, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat |
Incubation Period | 2-14 days | 1-3 days |
Symptom Onset | Gradual | Sudden |
Associated Infections | COVID-19 | Common cold, bronchiolitis, bronchitis, pneumonia |
Prevention | Vaccination, handwashing, mask-wearing, social distancing | Vaccination (for flu only), handwashing, mask-wearing, social distancing, fluids, rest, over-the-counter medications |
Treatment | Supportive care, monoclonal antibodies, antiviral medications | Symptom relief with over-the-counter medications, fluids, rest |
Coronavirus and rhinovirus are both respiratory viruses, but they cause different infections. Coronavirus, specifically SARS-CoV-2, causes COVID-19, a respiratory illness that can result in mild to severe symptoms and leads to hospitalizations and deaths. On the other hand, rhinovirus causes the common cold and other respiratory infections, which are generally less severe and do not result in significant hospitalizations or fatalities.
- Coronavirus vs Influenza
- Coronavirus vs Cold Symptoms
- Coronavirus vs SARS
- Hantavirus vs Coronavirus
- Coronavirus vs Covid 19
- Rhinitis vs Rhinosinusitis
- Rhinitis vs Sinusitis
- Sinusitis vs Rhinosinusitis
- Norovirus vs Rotavirus
- RSV vs Influenza
- Catarrh vs Coryza
- L vs S Coronavirus
- Swine Flu vs Normal Flu
- Flu vs H1N1
- Cold vs Flu
- Cold vs Influenza
- Asthma vs Allergic Rhinitis
- RSV vs Bronchiolitis
- Sinus Infection vs Cold