Healthy living
Body matters
Keep the bugs at bay
Simple soap and water help protect you against colds and flu – provided you use them often enough
Wash your hands regularly and you’ll reduce your risk of picking up a cold or flu virus this winter, according to researchers writing in the Cochrane Library Journal.
The report, which looked at the results of 51 separate studies, concluded that simple hygiene methods were the most effective at keeping bugs at bay. The results chime with recommendations already made by the World Health Organisation, that hand-washing limits the spread of viruses.
"Many simple and probably low-cost interventions could help reduce transmission of epidemic respiratory viruses," said Professor Tom Jefferson, lead author of the study.
Grandparents as well as parents need to remember that these measures were particularly important for younger children, who tend to have lots of physical contact with same-age friends and other household members.
And the international team said that that there was no evidence that anti-viral or anti-bacterial hand washes were any more effective than ordinary soap. The team also found that facemasks, gloves and quarantining were also effective in preventing the spread of respiratory diseases.
"We shouldn’t forget the basics when it comes to hygiene," says Vanessa Bourne of the Patients Association.
"This report just reinforces what generations of people have always known. I just wish people would take notice and act on it, but these days, even some medical students don’t realise the important of washing their hands."
Every year about 10-15 percent of people contract flu and this figure rises dramatically if there is an epidemic. A global pandemic, like the 1918 ‘Spanish Flu’ where over 50 million people died is rare; the last pandemic happened in 1968 and was considerably milder.
Symptoms of flu typically include a high temperature, muscle aches and a cough.
People who fall into at-risk categories, including the elderly and those with lung or heart disease and diabetes are advised to have a the flu jab each autumn.
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Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.