A leading doctor has identified three groups that are most at risk of becoming sick from a rhinovirus.
Respiratory expert Dr Joe Kidney, of Belfast Trust said that most people who are infected with a rhinovirus only experience the symptoms of a cold.
But there are certain groups who are more at risk of developing a more serious infection, including asthmatics, those with COPD or an impaired immune system.
Read more: Rhinovirus Ireland: HSE advises people with these symptoms to stay at home
"I think we all get about six colds a year under normal circumstances and our bodies might have forgotten that during the lockdown," Dr Kidney told Belfast Live.
"The majority of those are rhinovirus and there are around 12% of us that have a rhinovirus in our nose at any one time and they like to replicate in colder temperatures such as 32 degrees rather than 37, which is our body temperature. So when it gets cold outside it replicates in our nose which is why we call them colds.
"Most of the symptoms are of a cold, cough, runny nose, sinusitis and they can make you feel just rotten but often not very very ill, where flu is much more likely to give you temperatures. Although you can still get aches and pains with rhinovirus as well.
"The issue is now we are looking at people with runny noses and we want to know if they have coronavirus and the answer is they might do, but with a runny nose that can actually be a rhinovirus as well."
Dr Kidney added that one group is particularly at risk of developing serious illness.
He said: "Poorly controlled asthmatics are a real risk group and these are people who should be taking preventer treatments, a brown or red inhaler.
"They feel well between the episodes so they feel an the urgency to take medication because they are getting by with their relievers or blue inhalers, and then they can get very sick with a rhinovirus infection, so probably rhinovirus is responsible for 80% of asthma exacerbations and while it is very uncommon now, asthma deaths do occur.
"What I used to say is the common cold can be uncommonly dangerous to some people.
"The other that gets very sick are those with COPD, and an exacerbation is the second commonest cause for people coming into hospital."
Dr Kidney's warning comes as the HSE has advised people with symptoms of rhinovirus to stay at home even if they test negative for Covid-19.
The HSE said: "The first symptom of a cold is usually a sore throat. This is generally followed by sneezing or a blocked, sore or runny nose. Usually, one in three people with a cold will get a cough and feel unwell.
"You will usually feel worse during the first two to three days before gradually starting to improve. Your symptoms will usually last about a week."
Cold symptoms can include:
- blocked or runny nose
- sore throat
- headaches
- muscle aches
- coughs
- sneezing
- a raised temperature
- pressure in your ears and face
- loss of taste and smell
The health body adds: "The symptoms are the same in adults and children. Sometimes, symptoms last longer in children.
"Cold and flu symptoms are similar but flu tends to be more severe."
As well as staying at home, the health authority also advises a number of steps people should take to prevent the spread of the virus. These include:
- wash your hands often with warm water and soap
- cough into your elbow to stop germs getting on to your hands and spreading to other people
- use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
- bin used tissues as quickly as possible.
Read more: Covid-19 booster vaccine Ireland: Fourth dose recommended for people over 65
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