Facts of Personal Hygiene

Handwashing

• It is estimated that washing hands with soap and water could reduce dirrheal disease-associated deaths by up to 50%.


• Researchers in London estimate that if everyone routinely washed their hands, a million deaths a year could be prevented


• A large percentage of foodborne disease outbreaks are spread by contaminated hands. Appropriate hand washing practices can reduce the risk of foodborne illness and and other infections


• Handwashing can reduce the risk of respiratory infections by 16%.


• The use of an achohol gel hand sanitizer in the classroom porvided an overall reduction in absenteeism due to infection by 19.8% among 16 elementry schools and 6,000 students.

Face and Body Hygiene

• More than 50% of healthy persons have Staphylococcus aureus living in or on their nasal passages, throats, hair, or skin.


• Within the first 15 minutes of bathing, the average person sheds 6x 106 colony forming untits (CFU) of Staphylococcus aureus.


• The spread of pinworms can be reduced by proper hygiene, including clipping nails and showering children immediately after they wake in the morning.


• Hundreds of thousands of persons in the U.K. (between 1.2% and 1.3% of the total population) acquire outer ear infections each year, due to contaminated water remaining in the ear after swimming or bathing.


• Inadequate contact lens hygiene, such as failure to properly disinfect lenses, is associated with an increased risk of acquiring the eye infection Acanthamoeba keratitis

Nail Hygiene

• Before clipping or grooming nails, all equipment should be properly cleaned.


• Sterilizing equipment before use is especially important when nail tools are shared among a number of people, as is common in commercial nail salons.


• Infections of the fingernails or toenails are often characterized by swelling of the surrounding skin, pain in the surrounding area, or thickening of the nail.

How to help keep the spread of grems and nail infections:

• Keep nails short and trim them often.


• Scrub the underside of nails with soap and water (or a nail brush) every time you wash your hands.


• Avoid biting or chewing nails.


• Avoid cutting cuticles, as they act as barriers to prevent infection.


• Never rip or bite a hangnail. Instead, clip it with a clean, sanitized nail trimmer.


• Clean any nail grooming tools before use.

Showering hygiene

• Personal preference may dictate how often you wish to shower, but most people will benefit from a rinse at least every other day.


• Showering with soap helps rinse away dead skin cells, bacteria, and oils


• You should also wash your hair at least twice a week.


• Shampooing your hair and scalp helps remove skin buildup and protects against oily residues that can irritate your skin.

Teeth hygiene

• Good dental hygiene is about more than just pearly white teeth. Caring for your teeth and gums is a smart way to prevent gum diseases and cavities.


• Brush at least twice a day for 2 minutes. Aim to brush after you wake up and before bed.


• If you can, brush after every meal, too. Floss between your teeth daily, and ask your dentist about using an antibacterial mouthwash.


• These two steps can help prevent tooth decay and eliminate pockets where bacteria and germs can build up.

Side effects of poor personal hygiene

• Good personal hygiene habits are directly related to less illnesses and better health. Poor personal hygiene habits, however, can lead to some minor side effects, like body odor and greasy skin.


• Not brushing your teeth can lead to teeth issues and plaque buildup. Poor dental care is also a risk factor for several serious health issues, including heart disease.


• Poor hygiene habits can also affect your self-esteem. Looking and feeling presentable can give you a confidence boost and a sense of pride in your appearance.

Other conditions may be prevented or the risk minimized by practicing good personal hygiene. These are some examples:

• scabies


• public lice


• head lice


• body lice


• diarrhea


• athlete's foot


• ringworms


• pinworms


• swimmer's ear


• hot tub rash

Sites:
1. Handwashing,Face and Body
2.Nail Hygiene
3. Shower, Teeth, and Side effects

Created by Macey on October 1, 2021©