Friday, April 29, 2011

A Simple Act associated with Hand Washing Can Go a Long, Long Way!


Hand washing has become a a part of our culture. Hand washing and other hygienic methods are taught at each level of school, recommended in the work place, and emphasized during medical training. According to the Usa Centers of Illness Control and Avoidance (CDC), "Hand washing is the best means of preventing the spread of infection."



Throughout the day we accumulate germs on our hands from a number of sources, such as direct contact with people, contaminated surfaces, food, even animals and pet waste. Infectious illnesses that are commonly distribute through hand-to-hand contact range from the common cold, flu virus and several gastrointestinal disorders, such as infectious diarrhea. While most people will overcome a cold, the flu can be much more severe. Some people with the flu virus, particularly older adults and people with chronic medical problems, can develop pneumonia. The combination of the flu virus and pneumonia, in fact, is the eighth leading reason for death among Americans.



According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pneumonia is the leading killer of children under age Five worldwide, accounting for one out of every five child deaths. Hence, hands washing is recommended to avoid this deadly illness. More than 27, 000 children in developing countries under the age of five die every day from curable diseases. Pneumonia along with other respiratory infections destroy an estimated 2 million children each year. Almost three-quarters of those that die are less than a year old.



Hand cleaning with soap can help to eliminate the number of pneumonia-related infections in youngsters under the age of five through more than 50 percent, based on a study published in The Lancet. The research, conducted within Pakistan by the Centers with regard to Disease Control as well as Prevention (CDC) and P&G Beauty, a division of The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), is the first field research to show that hand washing can actually help prevent pneumonia.



The study conducted was designed to measure the health impact of enhancing hand washing and bathing with cleaning soap in low-income communities along with highly polluted environments. It was conducted to more than 900 homes in squatter settlements over a one-year period ending in March 2003. Roughly 600 households received a regular supply of cleaning soap; half received plain soap and half obtained antibacterial soap. The 300-household control group received school supplies.



The results of the research showed that incidence of disease did not differ considerably between households provided plain soap as opposed to antibacterial soap. The mechanical activity of vigorous hand washing with soap eliminates dirt and pathogens from hands, and it is the primary factor in protection against disease. It's important to note that researchers did not expect to see any advantage in making use of antibacterial soap against pneumonia.



Researchers also in comparison the impact associated with routinely washing of hands with soap in 900 homes in over a year. Regarding 600 households obtained supplies of regular or antibacterial soap, while 300 acted as a control group obtained school supplies. The actual homes were visited weekly to encourage better hygiene. The research showed results which cases of pneumonia had been cut by 50 percent in families given soapy those who rigorously washed their hands than the control group. The research proved that families worldwide can greatly improve the health and conserve the lives of the children by easy and proper hand cleaning.



Through regular exercise of simple hands washing, remarkable enhancements in health, sanitation, and disease control can be achieved. Hand cleaning doesn't take enough time or effort, but it offers great benefits in terms of preventing illness.



Article Source: articlemotron . com


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