Nail Biting Increases Coronavirus Risk

Altınbaş University Assistant Professor İpek Ada Alver stated that nail biting, known in medicine as onychophagia, facilitates the spread of Coronavirus and causes parasites in the intestines. Alver emphasized that artificial nails and long nails also play a role in transmitting microorganisms. Noting that nail biting disorder has psychological roots, Altınbaş University Assistant Professor İpek Ada Alver stated that the stress and anxiety about the future caused by the pandemic have led to an increase in psychologically-rooted involuntary tactile disorders such as nail biting, picking at wounds and pimples, scratching, and plucking hair and eyelashes. İpek Ada Alver said, "These behaviors not only affect psychology but also increase the risk of contracting infectious diseases. When hands are taken to the mouth, face and nose without washing, or when nails are bitten, virus particles that enter between fingers and nails can enter cells and multiply, and can infect the person. This increases the likelihood of contracting coronavirus," he said.

CAUSES INTESTINAL PARASITES BESIDES COVID-19

Stating that nail biting disorder causes parasite formation in the intestines as well as increasing the risk of Covid-19 infection, Assistant Professor İpek Ada Alver said: "Organic residues, dirt, food scraps, bacteria, viruses, parasites and other unwanted products that accumulate between the nails can be ingested through the mouth and enter the cells, and through reabsorption can also mix with the blood, reaching many tissues and organs, especially the liver, heart, kidneys and brain, and can systemically infect the entire body. Not washing hands, not disinfecting them and not paying attention to toilet hygiene can cause many infectious diseases, especially parasitic diseases, that weaken the immune system and require long-term treatment." Noting that nail biting disorder should be evaluated multidisciplinarily by psychology and infectious disease specialists, İpek Ada Alver warned, "While receiving support from a psychological specialist, necessary tests should be performed from an infection perspective to determine the types of microorganisms, and treatment should be started without delay." Alver also emphasized the importance of keeping nails short, regular hand washing, raising awareness about hand hygiene and providing education.

MICROORGANISM BREEDING GROUND: ARTIFICIAL AND LONG NAILS

Stating that besides nail biting disorder, artificial nails and long nails also play a role in transmitting microorganisms, Assistant Professor İpek Ada Alver said, "Long and artificial nails provide very suitable environments for microorganisms to multiply and survive... Keeping nails long, wearing artificial nails, not renewing worn nail polish, all lead to these becoming microorganism breeding grounds. This situation leads to the spread of various infectious diseases, particularly Covid-19," he said.