Picking your nose unsafe, threatening the health of as poking, and others, reveals a new study published in the European Respiratory Journal.
In the study, which covered 40 adults, British researchers found that the bacteria, which can cause a dangerous form of pneumonia can be spread if you are picking your nose or RUB it.
It has been known that pneumococci that cause pneumonia and some other diseases, spread by airborne droplets when coughing and sneezing, and a new study proves for the first time that they are distributed and upon contact of hands with nose.
Pneumococcal infection is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. From her die annually 1.3 million children under the age of 5 years, says the study’s lead author Victoria Connor (Victoria Connor) from the Liverpool school of tropical medicine (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine).
In addition, increased risk of infection observed in the elderly and people with immunity weakened due to chronic diseases.
In the study, the hands of 40 healthy adults was contaminated with pneumococci. People were divided into four groups. Participants from the first group were asked to sniff your wet hands, they were wet tissue infected with pneumococci. In the second group of people were sniffing my hands, which was caused dry bacteria. Participants of the third group picking his nose with fingers moistened with liquid with the bacteria, and in the fourth group did the same thing, but with dry hands.
The results of the study showed that the pneumococcus was easy in the nose in all test groups, but most in groups where there is a wet contact, probably because the bacteria usually die in the dry environment.
The authors suggest that good hand hygiene and cleaning of toys can help to protect children from infection and spread of bacteria to other children. The researchers also noted that such measures will help to reduce the spread of bacteria and infection of the elderly relatives of the child, which may be more susceptible to infection.
While Connor admits that it is impossible to force a child not to pick and not to RUB his nose. What the child picks his nose, maybe in her opinion, to have its advantages, as the presence of bacteria can stimulate the immune system of children and reduce the chances of Contracting subsequently. However, the spread of these germs can cause real harm to other people.
Thus, unlearn children picking his nose, according to Connor, is especially necessary in the case when they are in contact with elderly relatives or relatives with a weak immune system.
In such a situation, ensuring good hand hygiene, and clean toys and surfaces in the house will reduce the risk of transmission of bacteria and development of pneumococcal infections such as pneumonia, says Connor.
Dmitry Kolesnik