A Viral Sniff

A Viral Sniff

Summary: The nose is an easy way for things to enter and leave the body. It is also a way that common virus’s can get to the brain. A common virus is called human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6). This virus when inside can cause roseola, this is an infection causes a high fever and chest rash. This virus attacks nerve cells in the body, which carry information all over the body. This germ can also cause more serious sicknesses called encephalitis and epilepsy. Encephalitis is a swelling of the brain and epilepsy makes people have very serious seizures. Scientists have found that HHV-6 is being contained in the olfactory bulb, which is the part of the brain that controls information about smells. When you smell something the little molecules go into a small empty pocket behind your nose called the nasal cavity. After reaching the nasal cavity is when it goes to the olfactory bulb and the odors are signaled to other parts of the brain. This was also proven to enter through the nose because the virus was found in the mucus of the nose.

Critique: This article was written to help educate people about the fact the serious virus’s can be ingested through your nose, and can enter the brain. I was very educated even though it didn’t tell me the things that I should not smell in order to stay away from the virus.

Impact: This is just one of the ways that virus’s enter our bodies and scientists aren’t sure if this is the only way that these diseases can enter us. But they have conducted some experiments showing that it is possible. It gives scientists another thing to look at when studying different diseases and how they are consumed, and also how to cure them.

Reference: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2011/08/a-viral-sniff/