Background: Rhinotillexomania is a recentterm coined to describe compulsive nose picking. There is littleworld literature on nose-picking behavior in the generalpopulation.
Method: We studied nose-picking behavior in asample of 200 adolescents from 4 urban schools.
Results: Almost the entire sample admitted tonose picking, with a median frequency of 4 times per day; thefrequency was > 20 times per day in 7.6% of the sample. Nearly17% of subjects considered that they had a serious nose-pickingproblem. Other somatic habits such as nail biting, scratching ina specific spot, or pulling out of hair were also common; 3 ormore such behaviors were simultaneously present in 14.2% of thesample, only in males. Occasional nose bleeds complicating nosepicking occurred in 25% of subjects. Several interesting findingsin specific categories of nose pickers were identified.
Conclusion: Nose picking is common inadolescents. It is often associated with other habitualbehaviors. Nose picking may merit closer epidemiologic andnosologic scrutiny.
Free Access: Please Log In
This content is completely free—but you need to be logged in to read the full article. If you already have an account, please log in below. Otherwise, register for free to unlock instant access.
Please sign in or purchase this PDF for $40.00.
Save
Share
Cite
