We always try to keep our mouths covered when coughing and sneezing because we don't want to spread germs when we are sick. But according to a new study released in The Journal of Infectious Diseases we may spread more germs from a sneeze when we are not sick.
To protect ourselves we live with millions of bacteria on our skin, in our noses and mouths, and in our digestive tract. Each area of our body harbors different bacteria that does not harm us or cause disease, unless it ends up in the wrong area. For instance, some forms of e.coli naturally inhabit our digestive tract. But if this e.coli happens to make its way into our bladder then we get a urinary tract infection. The same is true for bacteria that live in our noses.
The study, published this month, out of North Carolina looked at the spread of Staphylococcus aureus (Staph aureus) from the noses of 11 healthy adults before and after sneezing from allergies and before and after sneezing from an upper respiratory infection.
They found that more Staph aureus was spread during sneezing from allergies than sneezing from cold. The increase was 4-5 times as much bacteria from allergic sneezing versus sneezing from a cold.
This may seem contrary to what many thought. We always assume that we have more bacteria and therefore germs when we are sick, but that is not always the case.
Staph aureus is just one bacteria in our noses. It can cause dangerous skin infections if it is able to enter through a cut or open wound.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on November 1, 2006 04:39 PM
