BABY AND CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES: NAIL BITING

Posted by admin on May 8, 2009 under General health | Be the First to Comment

More than 50 per cent of school children bite their nails, and the majority stop it in due course. Often it is an expression of anxiety, and a release of tension, but in many cases there is no obvious emotional reason. Some youngsters even become expert toe-nail biters as well! Nail biting may increase during times of boredom, fear, stress or tension.

Treatment

In most cases the situation is self-limiting and self-curative. In some cases, it persists into adult life, but this is unusual. Punishment, ridicule and strong measures will do more harm than good. Similarly, painting the fingers with vile-tasting chemicals is of little permanent value. More often, the child will wash or lick off the offending liquid, and enjoy the nail-biting session even more, possibly feeling a mark of achievement over non-understanding parents.

Efforts to detect any basis for emotional insecurity should be sought—is there some school problem or difficulty with peers that may be corrected? Correct any obvious problem. Otherwise, the less fuss that is made the better.

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