what are viruses and how do they affect the body?

Answer 1

Viruses are free radicals that attack the immune system. The results can range from colds, rashes, infections, etc.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Most of us at one time or another have had colds or the flu, and we are especially vulnerable during the cold and flu season. The symptoms -- fever, congestion, coughing, sore throat -- spread through offices, schools and homes, no matter where in the world we live. Colds and flu (influenza) are caused by viruses. Viruses are responsible for many other serious, often deadly, diseases including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Ebola hemorrhagic fever, infectious hepatitis and herpes.

Viruses lie around our environment all of the time just waiting for a host cell to come along. They can enter us through the nose, mouth or breaks in the skin (see How the Immune System Works for details). Once inside, they find a host cell to infect. For example, cold and flu viruses will attack cells that line the respiratory or digestive tracts. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, attacks the T-cells of the immune system.

Answer 4

Virus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about a biological infectious particle; for the computer term, see computer virus. For other uses, see virus (disambiguation).
Viruses

A virus is a microscopic particle that can infect the cells of a biological organism. Viruses can only replicate themselves by infecting a host cell and therefore cannot reproduce on their own. At the most basic level, viruses consist of genetic material contained within a protective protein coat called a capsid. They infect a wide variety of organisms: both eukaryotes (animals, yeasts, fungi and plants) and prokaryotes (bacteria). A virus that infects bacteria is known as a bacteriophage, often shortened to phage. The study of viruses is known as virology, and those who study viruses are known as virologists. The word virus comes from the Latin, poison (syn. venenum).[1]
It has been argued extensively whether viruses are living organisms. Most virologists consider them non-living, as they do not meet all the criteria of the generally accepted definition of life. They are similar to obligate intracellular parasites as they lack the means for self-reproduction outside a host cell, but unlike parasites, viruses are generally not considered to be true living organisms. A definitive answer is still elusive because some organisms considered to be living exhibit characteristics of both living and non-living particles, as viruses do. For those who consider viruses living, viruses are an exception to the cell theory proposed by Theodor Schwann, as viruses are not made up of cells.

Answer 5

The answers you have already are accurate and factual but it's important to consider why they are such a problem to us. They do not respond to antibiotics but they can bring on secondary infections. They have a habit of changing which means that it's difficult for us to build up immunity to them. Take the flu virus for instance. A particular strain can cause problems such as a flu pandemic and then it goes away because a general immunity is built up. Give it 60 or 70 years or so and the immunity lessens and the strain comes back again. Infection control and good hygiene is important. Norovirus is a particularly difficult and troublesome one and it's this one that closes hospital wards and brings cruise ships back to port. It causes sickness and diarrhoea for about 48 hours but about 70% of those that come into contact with an infected person can end up with it. If you want to know more you can email me at [e-mail]

Answer 6

viruses are very very small type of microorganisms they are smaller than bacteria they cant seen by ordinary microscope
They Can be seen only by electronic microscope
They attack the body cells and stay in it
Some cause flu some cause aids {HIV} some cause herpes some neuralgia her pis zoster etc
some stay in the body for ever like hive and even change its shape and figure

Answer 7

NO ONE KNOWS WHAT A VIRUS IS - THAT'S WHY THEY CALL THEM VIRUSES.................IT'S A CATCHALL TERM.
THEY CAN AFFECT THE BODY FROM SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A HEAD COLD TO SOMEONE DYING OF AIDS.

Answer 8

This question is so obvious that I'm not going to bother writing the full answer, as you can easily get it from http://wikipedia.org

Answer 9

top answer is the best ... I'll trake just the 2 points