Allergic salute

The allergic salute (sometimes called the nasal salute) is the characteristic and sometimes habitual gesture of wiping and/or rubbing the nose in an upwards or transverse manner with the fingers, palm, or back of the hand. It is termed a salute because the upward movement of the hand acts as an unintentional gesture.[1] The habit of using the hand to wipe the nose is observed more often in children but is common in adults as well.[2][3] Saluting most commonly temporarily relieves nasal itching as well as removing small amounts of nasal mucus.[4]

Person demonstrating the Allergic Salute.

In people who are experiencing seizures, nose wiping has been observed as a semivoluntary action.[5]

Process

The upwards wiping of the nose and nostrils allows for running mucus to be wiped off quickly and easily. Also, as the nostrils are being pushed up the air passages through the nose become temporarily propped open. This is especially beneficial if the air passages are swollen and the nostrils are itchy due to irritations such as allergic rhinitis.[6]

The mucus that is wiped onto the hand will most likely carry bacteria and other germs which could then in turn be passed along to other people.[7] Habitual as well as fast or rough saluting may also result in a crease (known as a transverse nasal crease or groove) running across the nose, and can lead to permanent physical deformity observable in childhood and adulthood.[8][9]

See also

References
  1. Jim McMorran; Damian Crowther; Stew McMorran; Steve Youngmin; Ian Wacogne; Jon Pleat; Clive Prince. "allergic salute - General Practice Notebook". Gpnotebook.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  2. "Allergic Salute". Medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  3. "Allergic rhinitis: spring into action". Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-02-12. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
  4. "Ask the Allergist - What Are Allergic Shiners". Acaai.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  5. Fisher, RS; Schachter, SC (2000), "The Postictal State: A Neglected Entity in the Management of Epilepsy.", Epilepsy & Behavior, 1 (1): 52–59, doi:10.1006/ebeh.2000.0023, PMID 12609127
  6. N.J (2012-01-08). "What is an "Allergic Salute"?". My-health-inf.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  7. "This is How Germs Spread... It's Sickening!". Health.ny.gov. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  8. Pray, W. Steven (2005). Nonprescription Product Therapeutics. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 221. ISBN 0781734983.
  9. "White Line On Nose In Children". Livestrong.Com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
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