Which virus is responsible for causing common cold symptoms?

The rhinovirus is the primary virus responsible for the majority of common cold symptoms. This virus belongs to the Picornaviridae family and is known for infecting the upper respiratory tract, leading to symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough, and sneezing. Rhinoviruses are highly prevalent and easily spread, particularly in crowded environments or during colder months.

Other viruses mentioned in the question serve different roles in human health. Norovirus is primarily associated with gastrointestinal inflammation, leading to symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, hence it is not linked to cold symptoms. Parvovirus mainly affects animals, though it can cause human infections like fifth disease in children, which presents with a distinctive rash rather than cold symptoms. Rotavirus is well-known for causing severe diarrhea in infants and young children, making it unrelated to respiratory illnesses like the common cold. Thus, the rhinovirus stands out as the clear causative agent for the symptoms associated with the common cold.