Note when washing and disinfecting baby's hands

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Truong Thanh Tam - Pediatrician - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and many infectious diseases and helminth infections, parents should pay attention to regularly washing and disinfecting their children's hands.

1. Wash your baby's hands properly with soap and water

Parents should apply the hand washing process of the Ministry of Health when washing their children's hands or guide them to follow each step of washing hands properly:
Step 1: Wet hands with soap and water. Rub your palms together. Step 2: Rub this palm on the back of the hand and line the fingers of the other hand and vice versa. Step 3: Rub your palms together and rub your fingers vigorously. Step 4: Rub the outside of these fingers into the palm of the other hand and vice versa. Step 5: Rotate the thumb of one hand to the palm of the other and vice versa to clean the thumb. Step 6: Rotate the fingertips of one hand into the palm of the other and vice versa. Clean hands under running water and pat dry. Germs are often spread from wet skin more easily than from dry skin, so drying your hands is a pretty important step. Use a clean disposable towel or paper towel to dry your hands. Do not use the same hand towel for more than one wash. Note: the minimum hand washing time should be 30 seconds. Steps 2-3-4-5 need to be repeated at least 5 times. Water of any temperature can be used because cold and warm water are equally effective at killing pathogens as long as soap is used.

2. Should you use hand sanitizer for babies?

The main ingredients of antiseptic medical hand sanitizer solutions in general and dry hand sanitizer for children in particular usually include: Ethanol (alcohol) from 60-70 degrees or higher, Deionized Water (purified water), Sodium Lactate (a type of desiccant), Fragrance (fragrance or essential oils for fragrance), Benzalkonium Chloride (bactericide)... Most of the ingredients cannot be taken orally, do not get into the eyes. If unfortunately children drink or use it to wash their face, it can lead to harmful reactions, depending on the level, it can cause digestive disorders, conjunctivitis... if severe, it will lead to respiratory failure absorption, endocrine disorders, harmful effects on the reproductive system, causing cancer... Therefore, parents should not allow their children to arbitrarily use quick hand sanitizer without instructing their children.
Particularly, the alcohol component in hand sanitizers also dries out the skin of the hands, making the skin of the hands peeling and tight. For children, the skin is more delicate and sensitive to the alcohol in hand sanitizer, which can lead to burning, irritation, itchy rashes and even formation of a rash. allergic diseases, dermatitis.
In addition, most of today's quick hand sanitizers contain chemicals that create odors, potentially causing allergic reactions, skin inflammation, endocrine disorders and adverse effects. Good for the reproductive system, increasing the ability to absorb BPA leading to cancer.
Therefore, to ensure the safety of children, parents should have their children wash their hands often with soap and water of clear origin and certified bactericidal use. If children use quick hand sanitizer, it is necessary to choose a cleaning solution that can be used by children, has a clear origin and is tested for quality. If the child uses dry hand sanitizer but has dry skin or dermatitis, then stop using it immediately, moisturize the child's skin or take the child to see a dermatologist.
Note, parents should not be subjective about just letting their baby use hand sanitizer is enough and absolutely safe. In fact, after the alcohol evaporates, the substances and pathogens after being destroyed still stick on the hands. This is an intermediate environment that helps attract harmful agents, if children accidentally touch them. Therefore, washing hands with soap and water remains the first and most effective option to prevent transmission of infectious diseases.

3. When to wash your baby's hands?

Parents need to instruct children to wash their hands with antibacterial soap and clean water for at least 30 seconds at times such as: Before and after children play, after children go to the toilet, before and after eating drink.. Instruct children to wash their hands after coughing and sneezing.

Wash hands immediately after contact with secretions of sick people or people with suspected signs of respiratory diseases such as coughing, sneezing... Wash hands immediately after contact with public surfaces such as elevators , stair handrails, door handles in public places such as supermarkets, schools... Parents, please wear masks for your children and tell them not to take them off when going out, closely follow and regularly advise survey to help children understand the importance of COVID-19 prevention.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health of Vietnam have advised people from adults to children to wash their hands frequently and properly to prevent disease. Proper hand washing has and will save millions of lives around the world from infectious diseases such as diarrhea, respiratory diseases and even the COVID-19 epidemic.
Besides teaching children clean personal hygiene, nutrition is also very important to help children grow healthy. Children who are not provided with adequate and balanced nutrients will have excess or lack of nutrients, adversely affecting the comprehensive development of both physical, mental and motor.
Children who do not eat properly are at risk of micro-mineral deficiency causing anorexia, growth retardation, malabsorption,... If they notice the above signs, parents should supplement their children with products. The supplement contains lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet the nutritional needs of children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children

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