Danger in picking nose

LAST week, British scientists said they had proved for the first time that the bacteria that causes pneumonia can be transmitted manually via the nose and hands.

In the trial, the results of which were published in the European Respiratory Journal, a group of adult volunteers had pneumonia bacteria applied to their hands, and then were asked to do a ‘wet sniff’, ‘dry sniff’, ‘wet poke’, and ‘dry poke’ – designed to mimic how people touch or dig around inside their noses.

“This study has shown that the hands can spread this bacteria as well, and objects like mobile phones or children’s toys could also be adding to the spread of this bacteria,” said Victoria Connor, a clinical research fellow at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Globally, pneumonia kills an estimated 1.3 million infants under five each year, and Connor said although the trial was conducted with adults, the main lesson was for parents of young children.

“It might not be realistic to get children to stop picking, poking and rubbing their noses,” she said.

“But for parents ... ensuring good hand hygiene and cleaning of toys or surfaces would likely reduce transmission, and reduce the risk of developing pneumococcal infection such as pneumonia.” – AFPRelaxnews