Comments on: Eeeewwwwww!

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:49:14 +0000

This got me to thinking about our lovely community-acquired MRSA problem, and all the surveillance nasal swabs done and the treatment, prophylactic and otherwise, for “nasal carriage.” I wonder truly how much is incidental and environmental contamination, and how many patients and healthcare workers have carriage from picking their noses (bad enough) - and even better - without washing their hands!

Picking the nose after wiping the buttocks.
That, my friend, will be the cause of the most virulent strain of VRE we have ever seen.

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:27:24 +0000

Oh, that’s nothing.

One of my first patients as a intern was a guy who came in with a facial abscess, which turned out to be a severely necrotic tumor that had eroded through his mandible and cheek. He had mets to the brain and was severely demented, and everyday when I walked in there, he was sitting there, picking at the creamy tissue — and then eating it. I’ve never been so grossed out in my entire life.

By: ScabsRFood2

ScabsRFood2 — Thu, 01 May 2008 08:58:08 +0000

That really doesn’t bother me at all…is there anyone out there who hasn’t eaten a scab or two in their lives (even as a kid)? Granted, we might not be talking about huge scabs, but I have to admit I still eat (well, it’s really more like “chew” the little scabs I get here and there. Of course I do ingest everything I can get out of my nose as well….but really, it’s a private thing, I’m very normal >). (Since I’m in the minority here I’ll give some more background- I find pus pretty disgusting, but I really get a sense of accomplishment from forcing pus out (of wherever), I really hate bad smells (maybe because I keep my nose so clean? lol), including vomit, so I normally breath through my mouth the second I think I might encounter a bad smell. Sputum and green nasal drainage sitting a bowl is pretty darn gross (I’m thinking of nasal suction in a hospital environment). I also HATE all green vegetables).

Are you trying to get me to puke?
Next time I see ScabBoy in the ED, I’m whipping out a head of broccoli to see if it’s you.

By: SeaSpray

SeaSpray — Thu, 01 May 2008 02:04:25 +0000

Really is a tough one and squeamish even reading comments. Plus it sounds so sore to do all that picking.

By: Dr. Val

Dr. Val — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:37:53 +0000

You got me. I used to pride myself on my “cast iron stomach” but that really is disgusting. Thanks!

By: Ted GI

Ted GI — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:24:27 +0000

I am just waiting for the consult to evaluate the guy for a positive fecal occult blood test…

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:13:27 +0000

Am I the only person not seriously squicked by that?!

As I kid I was a horrendous scab eater, and only don’t do it as an adult because I tend not to get damaged in a way that results in scabs.

But faeces and vomit? No no no!

By: Disciple of "Bob"

Disciple of "Bob" — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:00:22 +0000

That does register on my Gross-o-Meter, but it’s not even in my top 5. I would never make it as a parent, let alone in the medical field, because my top two gross-outs are vomit and feces, in that order.

By: Chrys

Chrys — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:16:25 +0000

Okay, that moves you to the end of my day reading. Not…the way to start off my day. Thank you very much, Whitecoat.

By: Tex

Tex — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:10:44 +0000

See what happens when gas goes up…
can’t afford gas, ride bike
can’t afford doctor, go to ER
can’t afford food….mmmmmm