World Toilet Day: Why you must wash your hands after going to the bathroom
Tuesday, November 20, 2018 IST
World Toilet Day 2018: Bathrooms are teeming with bacteria. But do you actually need to wash your hands every time you use the bathroom? Read on for some facts that will change the way you use your toilet forever.
Around 60% of the global population –- 4.5 billion people –- either have no toilet at home or one that is not safe, according to a report by the United Nations. World Toilet Day, celebrated every year on November 19, since 2013, focuses on taking action to ensure that everyone has a safe toilet by 2030. In fact, the bathroom is one of the most used rooms in our home, but it’s also the place where a lot of germs live. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a leading national public health institute of the United States, says in a report that washing our hands properly is a highly effective way to prevent the spreading of infections and illnesses. However, we’re usually in a rush when we wash our hands so we don’t actually get rid of all the nasty stuff that’s lingering on our fingers. After you lather up, you’re supposed to scrub your hands for a full 20 seconds, according to CDC.
That brings up an important question: Are you one who walks right past the sink after using the bathroom?
According to Dr Sanjay Aggarwal, a general physician at Holistic Healthcare Centre in Delhi, it actually doesn’t matter what you do in the bathroom when it comes to keeping your hands clean. “The rationale is that when in a toilet, it’s possible to have faecal material and faecal bacteria get onto your hands. So it’s wisest to always wash with soap and water even after urinating. Neither plain water nor alcohol hand sanitisers are effective at removing faecal material or killing bacteria in faecal material,” says Dr Aggarwal.
He added that washing hands after using the toilet can also keep one from coming in contact with E. Coli and hepatitis. Moreover, Dr Aggarwal says this is especially important for men to bear in mind, because of perianal sweat. “This type of sweat forms around the perianal area, which is the patch of skin outside the rectum. It can then spread to one’s underwear and to other parts of the body. The point is that simply directing your urine flow can be more than enough to transfer harmful microbes to your hands, and then on to your food,” says Dr Aggarwal.
In the end, we should all realise that bathrooms are teeming with bacteria. Door handles, sink handles, counters, walls, and basically everything else in this area are fair game. That’s why hand-washing can literally come in handy.
Related Topics
Related News & Articles
A recent study details how capsule endoscopy revealed multiple hookworms buried in the small intestine of a 14-year-old boy who had obscure gastrointestinal bleed...
Recently posted . 802 views . 2 min read
While those in leather cases have most bacteria, smartphones in plastic cases too have more than six times the germs found on lavatory seat....
Recently posted . 1K views . 1 min read
Clean and well-groomed hands are as much a necessity for men as for women. Wash right, moisturise well and exfoliate, says an expert. Latika Aryaof LA Skin...
Recently posted . 990 views . 24 min read
There is growing evidence that triclosan — one of the main antibacterial chemicals incorporated into soaps, cosmetics, mouthwash, and toothpaste — is un...
Recently posted . 936 views . 2 min read
World Kidney Day: People who suffer from kidney problems do not get to know until it reaches a very late stage. Here are top 10 signs of kidney disease that you m...
Recently posted . 1K views . 2 min read
Trending News & Articles
Lung cancer is usually not noticeable during the early stages. Most people are diagnosed when the disease is at an advanced stage. According to Cancer.org, it is ...
Recently posted . 8K views . 2 min read
The health benefits of wood apple include [1] relief from constipation, indigestion, peptic ulcer, piles, respiratory problems, diarrhea, and dysentery. It also b...
Recently posted . 6K views . 2 min read
Bael, also known as the “Wood Apple”, is a species native to India. The bael tree is considered to be sacred to the Hindus. A famous drink known as sh...
Recently posted . 5K views . 2 min read
The scientists likewise shared how much liquor an individual can drink prior to facing overabundance risk challenges their wellbeing, contrasted with somebody who...
Recently posted . 5K views . 1 min read
More in Food & Health
Diabetes, a deadly disease, has been on the rise in India. Measures like maintaining a steady weight helps cut risk of suffering from diabetes. Now, scientists have...
Recently posted. 1K views . 6 min read
New Delhi: Today, the fourteenth of June, is commended as World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) around the globe every year. The occasion, built up in 2004, serves to bring ...
Recently posted. 813 views . 8 min read
As the human body is made up of more than 70 percent water and life without water is not possible, it is very important to drink sufficient quantity of water ever...
Recently posted. 1K views . 2 min read
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 2K views . 480 min read
Recently posted . 1K views . 206 min read
Asafoetida or hing makes for an indispensable part of the Indian cuisine, especially in curries and dals.
Recently posted. 1K views . 0 min read
Whether you heard it from your mum or granny, all of us learnt at a young age that cracking our knuckles would make us get big ugly knobby knuckles or worse, we&r...
Recently posted. 912 views . 3 min read