Diseases From Not Washing Hands

If you don't wash your hands, especially after using the bathroom or handling food, you are at risk of developing a slew of illnesses, some very serious. It is recommended that you wash your hands with soap or use hand sanitizer, especially before eating, before and after handling food and after using the bathroom.

Types

• The most common contaminants that can get on your hands and cause diseases are human waste and bacteria from food. The most common ways you can get bacteria on your hands include handling food that contains dangerous bacteria (like raw chicken), contact with human and animal waste, touching contaminated surfaces that may contain food or animal waste, and direct contact with people who may have food bacteria or animal waste on their skin.

Effects

• Diseases that can be contracted from not washing your hands range from the common cold and flu to parasitic diseases like E.coli, Giardia and Salmonella.

Time Frame

• If you contract a disease caused by not washing your hands, it may take several hours, up to a few days to see symptoms. Symptoms may include nausea and vomiting if you have contracted a serious illness.

Prevention/Solution

• If you think you have contracted a disease from not washing your hands, begin the habit of washing your hands immediately. This will help keep other people you are in contact with from contracting the disease. If you are throwing up, start a diet of bananas, toast, applesauce and plain rice and see a doctor as soon as possible.

Theories/Speculation

• In killing bacteria and other harmful contaminants, hand sanitizer is 99.9% effective in eliminating germs and harmful bacteria from your hands. Depending on your hand-washing technique, you may not be ridding your hands from all of the harmful bacteria that may be on your hands, especially if you have touched contaminants. It is recommended that you keep hand sanitizer in the bathroom, kitchen and office to prevent the spread of contaminants.