Your hands pick up infectious germs and transmit them to your eyes or mouth, resulting in illness. Frequent hand-washing is a method of preventing various diseases, states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC suggests washing with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds to rid the hands of germs. When soap and water aren't available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be a sufficient alternative.
Digestive Illnesses
Many digestive infections are spread from the hands to the mouth. This can occur directly, such as touching a germ-infested surface and putting the hands into the mouth. It can occur indirectly, such as consuming food that was poorly handled by another individual. Common digestive infections that can be prevented by hand-washing include salmonellosis, shigellosis and hepatitis states the Wisconsin Department of Health services. Other infections can occur from handling animal waste and even soil that can cause pinworms.
These infections occur because even the smallest fecal particles can cause illness when ingested. Food-borne infections can be caused both by human fecal matter and animal fecal matter contaminating the food. Cooking foods properly, preparing animal products separate from produce and washing hands thoroughly when handling edible products can reduce the risk of infection. Poor hand-washing after a bowel movement can transmit fecal matter from an ill individual to other surfaces or foods that can infect well individuals. This is especially common in group settings like daycare, hospitals and schools.
Respiratory Illnesses
Some of the most common and easily spread illnesses are transmitted to others due to poor hand-washing. This includes illnesses like influenza and the common cold. More serious respiratory infections that can be prevented through sufficient hygeien include strep infections and respiratory syncytial virus states the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. A person ill with a respiratory infection can spread germs through sneezing, coughing and touching mucus fluids from the nose. Failing to wash the hands can spread the illnesses further and a well person can pick up the germs on the hands.
Other Bodily Fluid Illnesses
Various other illnesses can be spread through poor hand-washing but are not as common. This includes illnesses that are spread through blood, reproductive fluids, urine and even pus fluids from infections like herpes. Failing to wash the hands can spread these fluids from an infected person to other surfaces where they can be picked up by well individuals later. Examples include typhoid, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-barr virus, states the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
