Nose Picking Could Increase Risk of Covid Infection, Says Study

Rhinotillexis is an underestimated cause of Covid transmission.

Nose picking is an unusual practice that some people do to remove irritating boogers, and others may do so out of habit. However, according to a new study, this habit could put you at risk of contracting the coronavirus.

Study Conducted in the Netherlands

A team of scientists in the Netherlands undertook the study, which was driven by earlier research that showed healthcare staff who had close contact with Covid patients were also more likely to fall victim to infection.

Findings Published in Plos One

The findings of this interesting study based on common behavioural patterns were released in the journal Plos One. The data on 219 employees at Amsterdam University Medical Centres was gathered and thoroughly evaluated by professionals.

Key Findings

• In total, 84.5% of the surveyed healthcare workers reported picking their nose at least incidentally.
• Covid-19 incidence was higher in nose picking workers compared to participants who refrained from nose-picking.
• No association was observed between nail biting, wearing glasses, or having a beard and the incidence of Covid-19 infection.

Importance of Simple Behavioral and Physical Properties

The writer of the research mentioned that “It is surprising to observe the extensiveness in which the scientific community (including our own study team) has researched all sorts of Covid-19 transmission routes, risk factors, and protective measures; yet assessing the role of simple behavioural and physical properties has so far been overlooked.”

Conclusion and Recommendations

In their study’s conclusion, the researchers stated that “Considering guideline recommendations include, e.g., illustrations of appropriate masks for those with facial hair despite the lack of any real-life evidence, nose picking deserves more consideration as a potential health hazard, and explicit recommendations against nose picking should be included in the same Covid-19 infection prevention guidelines.”