If you look around a room that is full of children you are sure to see a few with a finger up their nose. It seems like fingers up the nose are just natural for children and there may be some good reason behind it. Most parents can be seen grabbing their hand away or asking their children to stop, thinking that it is embarrassing. After some research there are some underlying reasons that children pick their noses and some of them can be treated to lessen the amount of nose picking in your home. One other area that may end up being a problem with children and their noses is sticking foreign objects up their nostrils. Some kids think that a bead or button would fit just right. Foreign objects are a whole different ball game but have some of the same ramifications as nose picking.
Why Do Children Pick Their Nose?: When it comes to nose picking most kids take a turn at it about four times a day based on one study. That is a lot of picking so you may wonder why they seem to do it so often. The mucus in a person or child’s nose will usually dry out and that will cause it to stick to the interior of the nasal passage. This is an irritant to most children and they want to pick it out of the way. Other kids have their finger in their nose from allergies and the feeling of itchiness that is only better with a good pick. Other reasons are when a child has a cold they will produce more mucus and that is more chance it will dry up.
Why Don’t Kids Use a Tissue to Blow Their Nose?: You may be wondering why a child won’t just blow their nose with a tissue. The problem is that once there is too much dryness in the nasal cavity, blowing their nose is just not enough to get relief. There are times that you need to get in the nasal passage to remove excess mucus. This can be due to dehydration so ensuring they drink enough water could eliminate some of the need to pick.
Side Effects of Picking Your Nose: When it comes to nose picking the same rule really applies to everyone. When you put anything up your nasal passage you are running the risk of damaging the delicate balance and lining. If you have left your fingernails too long you can easily leave a scratch in the nose that could lead to a nose bleed and infection. If you put a foreign object it can become lodged and will need to the help of a professional to remove it. On the other hand some studies show that nose picking and the dreaded eating of boogies can actually be healthy for you. It has been thought that the mucus can help to build the immune system by introducing some of the air borne toxins that are breathed your nose.
If you are concerned about the potential harm of nose picking and putting foreign bodies in nasal cavities, call ENT Specialists today.
