Hygiene
Hygiene refers to the practices and habits that individuals adopt to maintain cleanliness and reduce the risk of transmitting or contracting infectious diseases. Key components of hygiene include handwashing, bathing, oral care, and proper environmental sanitation. Handwashing is particularly emphasized as one of the most effective methods for preventing illness, especially in situations such as food preparation or after using the restroom. Bathing and showering help remove dirt and microorganisms from the skin, while good oral hygiene practices, including brushing and flossing, protect against dental issues. Additionally, covering coughs and sneezes helps limit the spread of germs, and maintaining a clean environment through regular disinfecting contributes to overall health. The significance of hygiene was notably highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, as effective hygiene measures were essential in controlling the spread of the virus. Proper hygiene not only promotes individual health but also has broader implications for public health, reducing healthcare costs and saving lives.
Subject Terms
Hygiene
- ALSO KNOWN AS: Body hygiene, personal hygiene
Definition
Hygiene involves more than cleanliness; it encompasses the habits humans practice to reduce the risk of receiving and transmitting infectious diseases.
Types of Hygienic Practice
Handwashing. Studies have shown that handwashing is the most effective way to protect oneself from illness and avoid passing microorganisms to others. Hands should be washed often, particularly before preparing food; after handling uncooked meat; before eating; after using the toilet; after changing a diaper; after sneezing, coughing, or blowing one’s nose; before inserting and removing contact lenses; after gardening or working in dirt or soil; and after touching animals or cleaning up after them. Cleaning under the fingernails is also critical in preventing the spread of germs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that this crucial form of prevention may not always be an option in lower-income countries, where clean water and soap are not abundant resources. This reality often contributes to the rapid spread of disease.
One should wash hands in clean, preferably warm, running water with a lathering liquid or bar soap. Hands should be rubbed together, ensuring the soap contacts all skin surfaces for a minimum of fifteen to twenty seconds. The soap should then be rinsed off with running water. Hands may be dried with a clean cloth towel, paper towel, or air dryer.
If soap and water are unavailable, one can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Hands should be rubbed together until the alcohol evaporates and the hands are dry.
Washing hands is also important in food preparation and healthcare situations.
Showering and bathing. Bathing or showering with comfortably hot, clean water and liquid or bar soap that lathers to remove dirt and sweat containing microorganisms and moisturizes the skin to create a more efficient barrier. Clean and moisturized skin also promotes the healing of cuts, abrasions, burns, and rashes.
Oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing one’s teeth after meals protects the teeth and gums from dental caries, or cavities, and periodontal disease. Regular visits to a dentist and dental hygienist keep the oral cavity clean and allow for the early detection and treatment of tooth, gum, and mouth diseases.
Covering coughs and sneezes. When a person sneezes or coughs, saliva and other mucus-containing bacteria and viruses are released as droplets into the air. To limit transmission, sneezes and coughs should be covered using a disposable tissue, a handkerchief, one’s sleeve, or one’s hand, which should be washed as soon as possible after coughing or sneezing into it.
Environmental hygiene. Housekeeping is important because disinfecting surfaces, especially in the kitchen and bathroom, kills disease-causing bacteria. All cloth towels should be washed in hot water with detergent. Dishes should be washed with dish soap and hot water.
Impact
Hygiene practices, especially handwashing, reduce the incidence of illness, lower the cost of medical care associated with illness, decrease the number of lost days from work and school, and potentially save lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states effective and appropriate hygiene is vital to prevent and control the spread of germs and infectious diseases. The importance of hygiene could be seen during the COVID-19 pandemic of the early 2020s. Handwashing, respiratory hygiene through mask-wearing, and surface disinfecting played a key role in reducing the transmission of COVID-19, slowing the spread, and protecting vulnerable populations.
Bibliography
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An Ounce of Prevention Keeps the Germs Away: Seven Keys to a Safer, Healthier Home. CDC, 2002.
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