Hand hygiene to manage childhood infection: sharing tips to follow a doctor

In the post -Kovid era, hand hygiene has taken more importance in our daily life. The epidemic reminds how important handwashing is to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. While adults take more attention to this habit, it is equally essential to incite the importance of hand hygiene in children from young age – to build lifelong habits that protect their health and health of people around them. Also read Hand Hygiene DOS and Dons: 8 Expert Tips to Clean and Hygieenic Hands

In an interview with HT lifestyle, Dr. ATIC Ahmed, Advisory Pediatricians and Neononetologists, SAFE Hospital, Mumbai said, “The main cause of diarrhea and respiratory diseases among children is the main cause of inappropriate and insufficient hand washing practices not only the main cause of infectious disease burden, which is also all deaths.”

The doctor indicated the importance of hand hygiene in reducing the risk of diarrhea and upper respiratory tract infection. “Hand washing has been shown to reduce diarrhea and reduce life-threatening diarrhea from 42% to 48% and reduce the prevalence of upper respiratory infections from 24%. Children under 5 years of age have the highest risk, especially in those who participate in people or presesters.” Also read Handwashing: How, when, how long it has to be done to keep infections like Kovid in the Gulf

5-step hand wash routine following:

1. Wet your hands with clean, flowing water (warm or cool), close the tap, and apply soap.

2. Rub them together with soap and surround your hands. The back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

4. Rub your hands well under clean, flowing water.

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or an air dryer.

Increasing awareness about hand hygiene:

• Educate the baby about diseases: Introduce health enhancement that will educate and remind children that diseases are not always visible and that whether anyone looks dirty or not, transmission is still possible.
• start early: To maintain effective hand hygiene behavior, good hand hygiene habits should be taught quickly in the child’s life.
• be a role model: The importance of role modeling as a way to develop good hand hygiene habit in young children. In addition, health care provider shool encourages parents and young children to practice hand hygiene. It can strengthen the message of importance of hand hygiene compliance and result in healthy hand hygiene practice in young children. Also read Is dirty behavior gender? Studies show who is not washing hands among men and women

Note the readers: This article is only for informative purposes and is not an option for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor with any question about a medical condition.