Salmonellosis, hepatitis and 6 other diseases that are transmitted through dirty hands

Despite its apparent simplicity, everyday handwashing plays an incredibly important role in preventing a variety of infections and diseases – sources of infection are literally everywhere around us. Ignoring this trivial procedure can lead to many unpleasant consequences.

Director of Microbiological Research Department of LabQuest Laboratory, doctor-bacteriologist

“I will tell you about the most common consequences of violations of elementary rules of hygiene.”

What you can get infected by not following the rules of hygiene

In most cases, the algorithm of infection is the same – touching a dirty surface and not having washed his hands, a person can accidentally touch his face. It is enough to rub the nose or scratch the eye – and the infection gets inside the body. Unwrapped street food, unwashed fruit and vegetables, and food prepared by an unscrupulous person are the most common routes of infection.

Salmonellosis

The range of diseases that can result from a lack of hygiene is extremely wide. The first disease worth mentioning is salmonellosis. This is an infectious disease caused by the Salmonella bacterium. It can live in foodstuffs, so it is very common for housewives to encounter it when tasting raw minced meat for salt.

The same applies to chicken and eggs that require special storage conditions, which are often not observed, for example, by travelers on the train.

Its characteristic symptoms: constant vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to serious dehydration of the body. In rare cases, this infection can cause sepsis, a much more severe condition that sometimes results in septic shock, fatal in 25-50% of cases.

Dysentery

Dysentery, an infectious disease caused by the Shigella bacterium, has similar symptoms. Another name for the infection is shigellosis. As a rule, it starts with hands that are not thoroughly washed after going to the toilet – if you take food or shake hands with an unclean person, the bacterium can easily get on board.

Also, dysentery pathogens can persist in the external environment, including water. For this reason, you can get infected with shigella by bathing in contaminated water bodies and drinking raw water.

As with salmonellosis, dysentery can cause fever, abdominal pain and general weakness, as well as dehydration caused by diarrhea. In addition, in the liquid stools are often observed mucus, blood and pus. And in severe cases, dysentery toxin affects the nervous system, in some cases leading to meningitis.

Rotavirus infection

Salmonellosis and shigellosis are bacterial infections, but the list of diseases spread through dirty hands does not end there. Lack of hygiene is also a factor in the spread of viral infections.

Rotavirus infection, another disease caused by hands that are not washed after going to the toilet, is the most common under these conditions. The Rotavirus pathogen is resistant to the environment.

It can live in water for several months and on fruits and vegetables for up to 30 days.

Like bacterial infections, rotavirus leads to severe diarrhea. If immunity is compromised, the consequences can be much more serious, especially in children – up to encephalitis with subsequent death.

ARVI

Contrary to the stereotype, acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) are not only spread by airborne droplets. Their pathogens are also characterized by their vitality – you can find them on handrails, handles of shopping carts, banknotes and many other surfaces. Many people are familiar with the symptoms of ARVI: sore throat, runny nose, cough and fever. If it comes to complications, there is a risk of bronchitis and pneumonia.

Hepatitis

One of the quite rare, but no less harmful to health “guests” – hepatitis A. This is a viral disease of the liver, which can be spread through contact with the feces of infected people.

In other words, it is enough to shake hands with an unclean person or use a common object with him, for example, a mouse. Symptoms of this disease include jaundice, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and in the long term, liver failure can develop.

Enterobiasis

The third category of infections that unwashed hands lead to are parasitic. Usually in such cases we are dealing with enterobiasis, which is caused by pinworms (parasites). Its characteristic sign is itching in the area of the anus.

Enterobiasis is very common in children and spreads quickly in collectives through common objects – for example, toys. Also, this infection can be dangerous for pregnant women – it increases the risk of toxicosis, avitaminosis and fetal hypoxia.

Ascaridosis

“Colleague” enterobiasis – ascaridosis, caused by the corresponding parasites. Its frequent companions are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In some cases, a large number of worms in the intestine can cause its obstruction. In addition, parasites compete with humans for nutrients, which can lead to their deficiency.

Toxoplasmosis

The list of parasitic infections continues with toxoplasmosis. It is usually transmitted through contact with infected cats and contaminated objects and surfaces that the animal has been on after toileting.

It is often asymptomatic, but in immunocompromised people, toxoplasmosis can cause inflammation of the eyes and lungs, as well as damage to the nervous system. In addition, toxoplasmosis is a TORCH infection, a disease that is incredibly dangerous for the unborn child.

Preventive measures

The above list of diseases is extensive, but far from exhaustive. But they all have one thing in common – regular hand washing minimizes the risk of infection. This is the simplest way to protect the health of yourself and your loved ones, and should not be neglected in any case.

It should be done before every meal and its preparation, after contact with various objects in public transportation, with door handles, with animals, after shaking hands.

Do not forget about thorough washing of fruits and fresh vegetables, heat treatment of meat and fish, boiling water.