[서울신문] The habit of biting your nails and picking your nose

US medical experts “children should be especially careful”

American medical experts stressed that children should be warned because habitual nail biting and nose picking is very susceptible to COVID-19 infection.

According to CNN broadcast on the 28th (local time), Paul Pottinger, a professor at Washington Medical School, said, “If you rub your nostrils with your finger, you can promote the spread of Corona 19. “Whenever people who just blow their noses touch something (without washing their hands), they carry viruses and germs from their fingertips.”

The snot is a mixture of bacteria, viruses, and small dust, so if you shake hands with the snot and touch other places, the pathogen is easily spread to others.

Professor Paul Pottinger pointed out, “It is the act of not only bringing the virus into one’s own body, but also spreading it to others. If the nose is broken, various defense systems in the nose such as nose hairs and mucous membranes that block external pathogens are damaged.”

Molecular virus expert Dr. Cedric Berkeley said, “If you dig your nose and get a small wound on the lining tissue, the virus can easily enter the capillary layer and lead to infection.”

Experts advised to moisturize the nose directly with a saline spray or turn on a humidifier to keep the room hydrated properly. “The snot is just a piece of dry mucus. “You need to moisturize it so that it can be soaked out by itself.”

“The mask not only blocks airborne particles, but also physically blocks the habitual movement of the hand to the nose,” said Dr. Pottinger. This moment when all mankind has to cover their faces is a great opportunity to stop the habit of digging the nose.”

Reporter Kim Yoo-min [email protected]