Role of Personal Hygiene in Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases PDF

ROLE OF PERSONAL HYGIENE IN COMMUNICABLE AND NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES BY Dr. Saima Arshad (M.phil Public Health) DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (IUB)  Good personal hygiene remains one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves and others from...

ROLE OF PERSONAL HYGIENE IN COMMUNICABLE AND NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES BY Dr. Saima Arshad (M.phil Public Health) DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (IUB)  Good personal hygiene remains one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves and others from illnesses. Good personal hygiene such as frequent hand washing has been one of the means helpful in curtailing the spread of the Ebola virus. Hence, proper hygiene is mandatory to ensure global health and well being.  HYGIENE Hygiene is the science that deals with the promotion and preservation of health by reducing harmful levels of germs through cleanliness and sterilization. The two most common hygiene practices are: Hand washing and food preparation areas with soap, Cooking food and boiling drinking water.  WHAT IS COMMUNICABLE DISEASE A communicable disease is one that is spread from one person to another through a variety of ways that include: contact with blood and bodily fluids; breathing in an airborne virus; or by being bitten by an insect. Some examples of the reportable communicable diseases include Hepatitis A, B & C, influenza, measles, and salmonella and other food borne illnesses.  HOW DO THESE COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SPREAD? How these diseases spread depends on the specific disease or infectious agent. Some ways in which communicable diseases spread are by: physical contact with an infected person, such as through touch (staphylococcus), sexual intercourse (gonorrhea, HIV), fecal/oral transmission (hepatitis A), or droplets (influenza, TB) contact with a contaminated surface or object (Norwalk virus), food (salmonella, E. coli), blood (HIV, hepatitis B), or water (cholera); bites from insects or animals capable of transmitting the disease (mosquito: malaria and yellow fever; flea: plague); and travel through the air, such as tuberculosis or measles.  Good hygiene: the primary way to prevent infections The first line of defense is to keep germs at bay by following good personal hygiene habits. Prevent infection before it begins and avoid spreading it to others with these easy measures. Wash your hands well. You probably wash your hands after using the bathroom, before preparing or eating food, and after gardening or other dirty tasks. You should also wash up after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; feeding or stroking your pet; or visiting or caring for a sick person. Wet your hands thoroughly. Lather up with soap or cleanser, and rub it into the palms and backs of your hands and your wrists. Be sure to clean your fingertips, under your nails and between your fingers. Rinse under running water. Dry your hands and wrists thoroughly.  Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, then dispose of it. If no tissue is handy, cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than into your hands. Wash and bandage all cuts. Any serious cut or animal or human bite should be examined by a doctor. Do not pick at healing wounds or blemishes, or squeeze pimples. Don't share dishes, glasses, or eating utensils. Avoid direct contact with napkins, tissues, handkerchiefs, or similar items used by others.  NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, are medical conditions that are associated with long durations and slow progress. Most NCDs are non-infectious and are the result of several factors, including genetic, physiological, behavioral, and environmental factors. PROTECT YOURSELF WITH HEALTHY HABITS Healthy habits prevent germs and infectious diseases from spreading. Learn, practice, and teach healthy habits. Handle & prepare food safely Wash hands often Clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve Don’t share personal items Get vaccinated Avoid touching wild animals Stay home when sick