Handwashing Related Literature
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Microbial load on unwashed hands
There are grave consequences when people do not wash their hands or wash them improperly. It is known that hands are the main media for contaminants getting to people, whether the infections are airborne, oral or tactile.
Infectious diseases that are commonly spread through hand to hand contact include the common cold, and several gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhoea (WaterAid, 2006). Human hands usually harbour microorganisms both as part of a person’snormal microbial flora as well as transient microbes acquired from the environment (Lindberg et al, 2004).
According to Kartha (200!), many people consider handwashing a waste of time. However, they are unaware that hands are hosts to many bacteria and viruses that can cause infectious diseases. Every human being comes in contact with germs and bacteria in their daily life. These harmful microorganisms are present all around – on door knobs, faucets, light switches, tables, and railings. People touch these things during the day while doing their routine work without much thought, and then touch their face, eyes, nose, and sometimes eat food too. Through these acts, the microorganisms get into the body, causing several diseases. People, who are careless at washing hands, risk catching flu, or cold, or any gastrointestinal illness (Kartha, 2001).
Mayo Clinic (2009) also asserted that as people touch one another, surfaces and objects throughout the day, they accumulate germs on their hands. In turn, they can infect themselves with these germs by touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
Hands serve as vectors transmitting pathogens to foodstuffs and drinks and to the mouths of susceptible hosts (Huttly, 1997). Many food borne diseases and pathogenic microorganisms are spread by contaminated hands. If pathogens from human faeces enter a person’s mouth, they will cause diarrhoea.
School going children are exposed to greater risks of diarrhoeal
Microbial load on unwashed hands
There are grave consequences when people do not wash their hands or wash them improperly. It is known that hands are the main media for contaminants getting to people, whether the infections are airborne, oral or tactile.
Infectious diseases that are commonly spread through hand to hand contact include the common cold, and several gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhoea (WaterAid, 2006). Human hands usually harbour microorganisms both as part of a person’snormal microbial flora as well as transient microbes acquired from the environment (Lindberg et al, 2004).
According to Kartha (200!), many people consider handwashing a waste of time. However, they are unaware that hands are hosts to many bacteria and viruses that can cause infectious diseases. Every human being comes in contact with germs and bacteria in their daily life. These harmful microorganisms are present all around – on door knobs, faucets, light switches, tables, and railings. People touch these things during the day while doing their routine work without much thought, and then touch their face, eyes, nose, and sometimes eat food too. Through these acts, the microorganisms get into the body, causing several diseases. People, who are careless at washing hands, risk catching flu, or cold, or any gastrointestinal illness (Kartha, 2001).
Mayo Clinic (2009) also asserted that as people touch one another, surfaces and objects throughout the day, they accumulate germs on their hands. In turn, they can infect themselves with these germs by touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
Hands serve as vectors transmitting pathogens to foodstuffs and drinks and to the mouths of susceptible hosts (Huttly, 1997). Many food borne diseases and pathogenic microorganisms are spread by contaminated hands. If pathogens from human faeces enter a person’s mouth, they will cause diarrhoea.
School going children are exposed to greater risks of diarrhoeal
Bibliography: Aiello, A.E. & Larson, E.L. (2002) What is the evidence for a causal link between hygiene and infections? in Lancet Infectious Diseases.2:103 – 110 CDC (2010/2011) Wash Your Hands. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/Accessed on: 08/03/13 Curtis, V., Kanki, B., Cousens, S. et al. (2001) Evidence for behaviour change following a hygiene promotion programme in West Africa in Bulletin of World Health Organization 79: 518 Kalanke (Mali) (2011). Some key points on hand washing. Available from: http://kalanke.web.officelive.com/HandWashingAnimations.aspx Accessed on: 08/03/13 Philippine Medicinal Plants (2011).Dayap (Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.)Swingle). Available from: http://www.stuartxchange.org/Dayap.html Accessed on: 08/03/13