What’s a booger?

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Please don’t call it that. Don’t call it snot, either. It’s mucous. (Can you say myoo-kus?) The answer to what it is can be found under “Nose” in the ‘how things work’ section of a kids health website, along with answers to why we sneeze and scads of information on the work a nose does: breathing, smelling, filtering air for the lungs.

Kids can find healthy recipes, ideas for active play, and information on “growing up,” divided into boy stuff and girl stuff. Children with curiosity about health problems can look up allergies or asthma. They can find out what a coma is, how chemotherapy works or how to prevent diabetes. Or they can click on a number of body parts to find out how they work.

The site’s press release says, “Since 2004, more than 1.6 million people have viewed a “How the Body Works” feature. Using kid-friendly language, animations, and activities, “How the Body Works” is a popular resource for homework help and an entertaining way for kids to get answers to their questions. The new interactive module builds upon the previous features and now includes more than 100 articles, quizzes, word searches, activities, and movies featuring everything from the adventures of Glandman to Col. Lucy Leukocyte, commander of a body’s immune system.”

And it’s all overseen by medical editor and pediatrician, Dr. Mary L. Gavin.

--Susan Brink