Health professionals who pick their noses are more likely to contract covid, says study – 05/08/2023 – Health

Health professionals who pick their nose are more likely to contract Covid and should be warned about the risk of infection, suggests a study done in the Netherlands and published in the scientific research journal PLOS One.

The Dutch researchers said the role of nose-picking in the spread of the virus may be being underestimated and that professionals need to be alerted.

The survey of 219 healthcare professionals at two university medical centers found that most of them admitted to picking their noses “unintentionally”.

And doctors were the most frequent pickers (95%), followed by support staff (86%) and nurses (80%). Men and younger people were also more likely to admit to the habit.

The survey showed that 17% of those who admitted picking their nose were diagnosed with Covid, while only 6% of the other group tested positive.

A third of respondents admitted to biting their nails, but the survey indicated that this does not increase the chances of catching Covid.

This could be due to the protective effects of saliva, the researchers said, meaning that the mouth would not be “an entry point” for the virus.

Having a beard or wearing glasses also does not increase the risk of contracting Covid, according to the study, despite the possible problems that beard and glasses create for the correct use of masks, according to the study.

contaminated mucous membranes

The researchers said that since the nose is the main route of entry for the coronavirus into the body, picking your nose can facilitate infection by introducing virus particles from your hands directly into your nose.

Habit can also increase the chances of transmitting the virus to other people. This is because, even before symptoms begin to develop in an infected person, there are already many viruses in the mucous membranes that line the nose.

“Health care workers infected with [coronavírus] who pick their nose can contaminate the work environment, potentially leading to further transmission,” they concluded.

The study’s authors pointed to the fact that the spread of the coronavirus among staff was a major issue in hospitals, saying the role of nose picking could be “underplayed”.

They recommended “no-picking education sessions in infection prevention guidelines.”