Importance of Hand Washing

Serena Cuoghi
Title of Professor of Biology

Among the most basic hygiene rules that one receives as a child, is the repetitive mandate to wash one's hands. Every time you visit the bathroom, when preparing any type of food, after petting the pet, and even if it has not been done yet After nothing has been done that can visibly prove the presence of dirt, hands must be thoroughly washed with soap and water. But, what is the reason for such rigidity and meticulousness? Well then, 1) they are the means of direct transport of countless pathogens of all kinds; 2) we expose them permanently and unconsciously on almost any surface, without realizing the potential risks; 3) we can absorb through them a large amount of chemical substances; 4) they are a non-verbal communication resource that in many cultures is used for the exchange of courtesy or affectionate physical contact between people; and 5) we depend on them in almost all of the matters that we carry out on a daily basis, so it is wise to give them their deserved care.

Health enters through the mouth, or not?

The multiplicity of microorganisms that we can pick up and house in our hands, coming from any type of surface and medium, is as wide as it is dangerous. Children are always much more exposed than adults to suffer from diseases caused by fungi, viruses and bacteria that have passed to the mouth and from there to the interior of the organism, through the lift that the hands. This disproportionate variation in the contagion of infectious diseases in statistics by age depends almost strictly on the little awareness that people still have when they are little, about the potential danger our health faces due to the lack of adequate hygiene and the natural impulse to touch and taste everything, to create our own experiences sensitive.

Hence, the extra effort of reminding children to wash their hands frequently and the necessary vigilance to guarantee their correct behavior is required, so that they can stay healthier, running a lower risk of suffering from infectious diseases, such as the so common canker sores, herpes and tonsillitis that bother them so much cause.

hidden wounds

It is necessary to become aware of this practice, particularly while we carry out activities that are strongly compromised, such as attending to a sick person, cooking, gardening or DIY work, among others, is the possibility of making small cuts and having injuries through which the agents Pathogens can find a quick access route, even those that do not produce direct and immediate infections, but patiently make their way to reach the torrent. sanguine, to hide for years within the body, manifesting later with very serious clinical pictures, as some species of the genus do, for example. salmonella.

Although the vast majority of viruses do not survive in the external environment for more than a few seconds, they can pass rapidly from one person to another through the air. direct exchange of fluids, which can also have an immediate action, serving as a vehicle for all kinds of pathogens, hence the service and attention to health, doctors, nurses and other personnel, maintain total asepsis in their hands, as well as the use of gloves to avoid contaminating them, thus protecting both the patient like themselves.

Respect for 'white'

One of the least mentioned reasons in any type of literature concerning personal hygiene, but which usually becomes one of the most in demand among people, is to consider having clean hands for the simple reason of not dirtying what can be tap.

From grandma's fine lingerie to the new book you just bought, any surface runs the risk of preserving the not-so-pleasant memory of the visit of dirty hands, so extreme consideration must be taken when handling light-colored things and even more so when they are not made of our property, having the kindness to wash our hands previously, thus also eliminating the possible traces of grease that our own skin generate.

Another piece of advice that is usually omitted, but is very useful, is to clean yourself frequently when writing using graphite pencils, although many pens and nibs also they can get your hands dirty as work is carried out with them, so it must become a frequent practice if you want your writings and works to maintain an image flawless.

References

Alba-Leonel, A., Fajardo-Ortiz, G., & Papaqui-Hernández, J. (2014). The importance of hand washing by the personnel in charge of the care of hospitalized patients. Journal of Neurological Nursing, 13(1), 19-24.

Javier, L., & Cardiel, C. (2004). Reflections on hand washing. Rev Med IMSS, 42(6), 519-524.

Padron, E. R., Landin, F. TO. C., & Reyes, S. TO. R. (2015). Historical notes on hand washing. Cuban Journal of Stomatology, 52(2), 217-226.

Villa, C. (1996). Biology. 8th Edition. Mexico. McGraw-Hill.