Having clean hands from regular handwashing will create a protective barrier against germs and disease.
Children are especially curious about the world around them and use their hands to explore everything, often picking up germs that could cause diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections. Regular handwashing and clean hands are the most effective way to prevent the spread of many infections, from colds and influenza to food poisoning, Rotavirus and hepatitis A.
“Hepatitis A is a general term that means inflammation of the liver,” explains Johannesburg general practitioner Dr Gavin Zipp. “While it’s the mildest of the common hepatitis virus infections (hepatitis B and hepatitis C), it still packs a nasty punch and can cause your child to suffer fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and fatigue. It’s a food-borne viral illness and spreads rapidly where children are in close contact with each other, placing nursery schools at high risk.
“While the infection is mainly transmitted via the faecal-oral route (going to the toilet and not washing hands, then touching your face or food and accidentally ingesting the virus), it can spread in other ways.” He says your child could pick it up by playing in a puddle of contaminated water, or from eating contaminated food or unwashed fruit and vegetables.
If you suspect your child may have hepatitis A, take them to a doctor who will perform a physical examination and a blood test. Treatment is symptomatic and it can take several days, even weeks, before your child will be well again. Bed rest and good nutrition are advised.
Fortunately, there is a vaccine against hepatitis A. “The vaccines contain no live virus and therefore have few side effects (apart from soreness at the site of the injection), and can be administered by your doctor or your local chemist,” says Cape Town nursing practitioner Sandy Daynes. “The vaccines must be given before exposure to the virus and won’t help if your child has already become infected.” The vaccine is given in two shots, administered six months apart for maximum protection.
Teaching your children about handwashing and having clean hands from an early age will instil good hygiene habits for life.
Read our article on making washing hands fun.
Sing-along for clean hands
The correct amount of time to clean hands correctly with soap is 20 seconds. You could sing the alphabet, Old MacDonald or try this this 20-second song to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. “Wash, wash, wash your hands, got to get them clean. Every finger one by one and lather in between. Wash, wash, wash your hands, got to get them clean. Every finger one by one and lather in between.”
Seven steps for clean hands
Make sure to complete all the seven steps below properly to ensure safe and clean hands.
Step 1: Wet hands and apply soap.
Step 2: Rub the palms together.
Step 3: Rub the back of hands.
Step 4: Rub the back of the fingers.
Step 5: Rub and clean the thumbs.
Step 6: Rub and clean the tips of the fingers.
Step 7: Rinse the hands.
Source: MedicineNet.com
Good to know
- Washing your child’s hands with soap and water helps reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal disease by more than 40 percent.
- Wash your child’s hands before meal times, after they’ve blown their nose, coughed or sneezed, after playing outside, if they’ve been touching animals (including the household pet) and, most importantly, after they’ve been to the toilet.
- Establish a hand-washing routine so that it becomes second nature for your child.
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
- When buying unpackaged food, ensure the person serving you is wearing plastic gloves.
- Bacteria can grow on towels, so keep them clean, or opt for disposable towels.
- Germs and bacteria can grow on soap bars if they’re left to lie in water. Keep soap dry or use a liquid soap.
