10 Dangers of Not Washing Your Hands Before Eating

Do you have a good habit of always washing your hands before eating? It is a very healthy habit indeed. Parents usually always warn their children to wash their hands before eating. This habit is actually very good and can prevent you from getting affected by various kinds of diseases.

However, unfortunately, there are some people who are not used to washing hands before eating. Here are some of diseases you might get if you don’t wash your hand before eating:

1. Salmonella Poisoning

If you often eat without washing your hands, you are at risk to get infected with salmonella bacteria. These bacteria can spread directly from various places, but most frequently trhough contaminated foods or water. Salmonella bacteria could move from food or hands into the intestinal tract.

These bacteria can live in the intestines and other digestive tracts. Signs of salmonella bacterial poisoning are like diarrhea, abdominal pain, cold sweats, nausea and vomiting. In order to prevent it from getting worse, call your doctor as soon as possible.

2. E.coli Poisoning

E. coli bacteria poisoning can also occur if you eat without washing hands. These bacteria can come from public places such as toilets or any other unhygienic places. For example, if you eat after using a public toilet without washing your hands, then there is a risk of E. coli bacteria getting into your digestive tract along with the food you eat.

This kind of poisoning can cause very severe diarrhea, stomach cramps, and severe abdominal pain. If this condition is not treated promptly then it can lead to kidney failure.

   3. Influenza and Cold

Getting flu and cold are the most common risk from not washing hands before having meal, especially after you interact with someone who is having flu or cold. The transmission of the virus could occur when you stay close with someone who is sick or when you use public facilities, which is full of germs and bacteria.

The virus will spread very quickly, not only enter the body through contaminated food and water, but also through the air that you breathe in. Read more about Effects of Drinking Cold Water after Exercise

  4.Throat Infection

If you have a habit of not washing your hands before eating, it can also cause throat infection. This happens when there are many bacteria that are already attached to the hand then spread to the digestive tract. Food that enters the larynx will be directly related to mucus.

Then the bacteria will stay in the mucus section and grow rapidly. This condition can cause sore throat and infection. The risk of getting throat infection will be higher if your immune system is already not in a good condition. Read more about Causes of Why Your Body Get Tired Easily

5. Diarrhea

People who do not wash their hands before meals are also very prone to diarrhea. This disease is caused by a virus or bacteria that already attached on your hands, which might come from objects you usually use or hold. The bacteria will enter the intestinal tract through the food that comes into contact with the hands.

The development of bacteria in the digestive tract can cause diarrhea. The gut cannot tolerate the bacteria causing diarrhea reactions. To prevent things to get worse, you should visit your doctor immediately.

6. Hepatitis B

The danger of not washing hands before eating might also cause hepatitis B. Hepatitis is a contagious disease which attack the liver and cause the patient have difficulty in having a healthy body. The virus can spread easily through the air and food. Even a bad environment can be a place of endemic hepatitis B. One way to prevent it is to wash hands often. Washing hands before eating can reduce the risk of hepatitis B.

7. Shigellosis Infection

Shigellosis infection is an infection caused by the type of shigela bacteria. The disease caused by the said infection is dysentery. Dysentery is generally caused by the habit of not washing hands before eating. When your hands are dirty after doing various activities, then maybe a lot of bacteria are nesting in your hands. Contamination can occur through the foods or dirty hands. The disease is characterized by fever, digestive problem, and severe diarrhea.

8. Botulism Infection

People who do not wash their hands before eating can also get infections of botulism. The disease is transmitted directly through food and unclean hands. This kind of infection is a very dangerous type of infection because it can cause death. Botulism infection is also requires prompt treatment to reduce the potential of the disease to get worse. Some signs of this infection are like diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, blurry vision and loss of consciousness.

9. Amoebiasis Infection

Amoebiasis infection is a type of illness that can be caused by not washing hands before eating. This disease will cause the patient to experience dysentery. The type of amoeba that causes this infection is included in the Endameba histolytic class. This infection not only attacks the digestive tract but also various other organs.

Therefore, this infection quickly develops in the body and requires emergency care. Washing hands before eating can prevent more dangerous conditions

10. Inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract

People who have a habit of not washing hands before eating can also get inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract. This disease can cause short breath, cough, flu and sore throat. This inflammatory disease can spread through bacteria or viruses that enter the body through food.

When bacteria or infectious sources come into contact with the mucus in the throat, the source of the infection will develop in that place. Then it will cause a decline in the immune system and make the patient get sick easily.

Sources of diseases such as bacteria or viruses are not visible to the naked eye. The source of infections and disease are often come from foods, unhygienic environments and dirty hands. To overcome these hazards, don’t forget to wash your hands before eating or after you are doing activities that make your hands dirty. Wash your hand with hand soap and clean it thoroughly to prevent you from getting various kinds of infection and diseases that mentioned above.

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