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Nailbiting
Also known as Onychophagia
Onychophagia (also onychophagy) or nail biting, is a common oral compulsive habit (sometimes described as a parafunctional activity) in children and adults.
Source: WikipediaWhat symptoms are related?
Within all the people who go to their doctor with nailbiting, 80% report having depression, 63% report having nightmares, and 63% report having irregular appearing nails.
- Depression strong predictor 80
- Nightmares strong predictor 63
- Irregular appearing nails strong predictor 63
- Delusions or hallucinations strong predictor 63
- Abnormal involuntary movements strong predictor 63
- Hand or finger pain strong predictor 63
- Anxiety and nervousness 63
- Depressive or psychotic symptoms 63
- Preoccupation with sex strong predictor 7
- Wrist cramps or spasms strong predictor 7
- Joint cramps or spasms strong predictor 7
- Joint lump or mass strong predictor 7
What might my doctor prescribe?
Common Tests and Procedures
Patients with nailbiting often receive psychotherapy, mental health counseling, incision and drainage, standard pregnancy test, corneal transplant, transurethral resection of prostate (turp), coronary thrombolysis and control of epistaxis .
Common Medications
The most commonly prescribed drugs for patients with nailbiting include loratadine (claritin), hydroxyzine, citalopram (celexa), trazodone, quetiapine (seroquel), memantine (namenda), bacitracin (septa), ciprofloxacin, acetic acid, air, acebutolol, dalfampridine (ampyra) and polymyxin b sulfate .
| Loratadine (Claritin) | $7 (28 days) | |
| Hydroxyzine | $23 (28 days) | |
| Citalopram (Celexa) | $9 (28 days) | |
| Trazodone | $7 (28 days) | |
| Quetiapine (Seroquel) | $290 (28 days) | |
| Memantine (Namenda) | $157 (28 days) | |
| Bacitracin (Septa) | $64 (14 days) | |
| Ciprofloxacin | $7 (7 days) | |
| Acetic Acid | $31 (14 days) | |
| Air | ||
| Acebutolol | $17 (28 days) | |
| Dalfampridine (Ampyra) | $1010 (28 days) | |
| Polymyxin B Sulfate |
Who is at risk?
Groups of people at highest risk for nailbiting include age 75+ years, age 5-14 years, race/ethnicity = black and age 15-29 years. On the other hand, age 30-44 years, race/ethnicity = hispanic, and age 60-74 years almost never get nailbiting.
Age
| < 1 years | 0.2x | |
| 1-4 years | 0.1x | |
| 5-14 years | 3.3x | |
| 15-29 years | 2.3x | |
| 30-44 years | 0.0x | |
| 45-59 years | 0.7x | |
| 60-74 years | 0.0x | |
| 75+ years | 1.6x |
Sex
| Male | 1.3x | |
| Female | 0.7x |
Race/Ethnicity
| Black | 2.2x | |
| Hispanic | 0.0x | |
| White | 0.9x | |
| Other | 0.1x |
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