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Diseases Caused by Poor Personal Hygiene & How to Prevent Them

Personal hygiene refers to the ways by which you take care of your body. Maintaining proper personal hygiene is essential as it lowers the spread of sickness and the odds of medical conditions when you do not take care of yourself.

Additionally, personal hygiene increases a person's self-confidence and plays a vital role in personal relationships.

Bathing regularly, wearing clean clothes, flossing and brushing the teeth daily, following a routine, and getting adequate sleep helps maintain proper personal hygiene.

However, not incorporating these healthy practices increases the odds of diseases caused by poor personal hygiene.

Team Digit

What is Personal Hygiene?
Causes of Poor Personal Hygiene
List of Diseases
Harmful Effects of Diseases
Risk Factors
Diagnosis Methods
Treatment for Diseases
Preventive Measures
Does Health Insurance Cover
Frequently Asked Questions

What is Personal Hygiene?

Good personal hygiene means maintaining a clean body. It also helps shield you against diseases like COVID-19, colds, and the flu. Proper personal hygiene might also help you avoid infecting others. Maintaining the cleanliness and health of one's exterior body extends to good personal hygiene.

When people don't practise good personal hygiene, their body creates the perfect conditions for germs to proliferate and become infected. People may shun someone who practises poor personal hygiene in social situations, which can lead to loneliness and isolation.

What are the Causes of Poor Personal Hygiene?

Poor personal hygiene is a major problem that people must take care of. Poor personal hygiene can result from various other factors, including:

Causes	Description
Lack of Knowledge	Some individuals may not know what good hygiene entails or how often personal hygiene should be practised.
Insufficient Economic Means	A person may be unable to afford facilities or the personal care products needed because of a lack of financial means.
Mental Health Issues	Depression, anxiety, or any other mental issues lower one's drive and capacity for taking good care of personal hygiene.
Physical Health Issues	Chronic diseases or disabilities can make personal hygiene very challenging to conduct. Disabled or sick people find it difficult to move and maintain hygiene.
Neglect/Habit	Sometimes, poor hygiene is a function of neglect or habit, not necessarily because an individual does not attach importance to cleanliness.

Diseases Caused by Poor Personal Hygiene and Their Symptoms

The body louse, also called cootie, is a parasite that lives on the human body. These infections are spread through person-to-person contact, poor personal hygiene, and people living in crowded conditions.

symptoms, are –

1. Body Lice

These infections are spread through person-to-person contact, poor personal hygiene, and people living in crowded conditions.

Symptoms – Intense itching, rashes, red bumps on the skin, darkened or thickened skin (especially near the groin or waist)

2. Scabies

It is one of the major skin diseases caused by poor personal hygiene. It occurs when someone comes in close contact with a person having scabies mites or when people live in crowded unhygienic conditions.

Symptoms – Itching (at night), rashes, sores and thick bumps on the skin.

3. Trachoma

The bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, causes trachoma. It occurs due to poor hygiene or close personal contact. It is a common public health problem that causes visual impairment or blindness in the worst cases.

Symptoms – Mild itching in the eyelids and eyes, continuous eye discharge, eyelid swelling, photophobia, eye pain, eye redness and vision loss.

4. Lymphatic Filariasis

It is a neglected tropical disease (NTD). Infected mosquito bites spread it. Microscopic thread-like worms that reside in the human lymph system cause this disease. This is an extremely rare disease that needs medical diagnosis.

Symptoms – Inflammation, lymphedema, hydrocele and oedema.

5. Head Lice

The most typical sign of head lice is itching on the scalp. This allergic reaction to head louse bites causes itching and an itchy feeling brought on by hair movement. As a result, sleeping becomes agitated and uncomfortable.

Symptoms: Itching, nicks in the hair, tickling in the scalp.

6. Staph Infections

Staph bacteria infections can present with various symptoms, such as swelling, redness, and pain. If the infection is on the skin, it may manifest as a boil or pimple. If it happens on a bone, it might result in discomfort, swelling, and redness in the affected area.

Symptoms: Food poisoning, fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, and nausea.

7. Candidiasis

The yeast Candida albicans is the source of the fungal infection called candidiasis. It is usually found on the skin or in the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina. Before treatment, if the illness spreads throughout the body, it results in fatal heart, brain, kidney, or circulation infections.

Symptoms: White patches on the skin look like peeling or crusting in the genital areas.

8. Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that usually starts between the toes from sweating from wearing shoes that are too small. The affected area results in a scaly, itchy rash that frequently leads to peeling skin.

Symptoms: White-coloured rash in between toes, itching, scaling.

9. Ringworm

Ringworm is a rash that appears as an itchy, circular ring on the arms, legs, torso, and buttocks. On white skin, the colour changes to red; on black and brown skin, it changes to reddish, purplish, brown, or grey.

Symptoms: Red rashes, itching, scaling.

10. Giardiasis

Giardiasis is a self-limiting infection of the intestine caused by Giardia lamblia. It spreads most easily through poor hygiene practices or contaminated water intake, and it is common in places with poor sanitation.

Symptoms: Diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, weight loss.

11. Pinworm Infection

These are small intestinal parasites transmitted through poor hygiene practices, such as not washing hands properly after passing stool. You can also contact them if you come in contact with open stools.

Symptoms: Itching at the anus, irritability, difficulty sleeping, visible worms in stool or around the anus area.

12. Impetigo

Impetigo mainly affects infants and children. Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the skin caused by poor hygiene, such as infrequent hand washing or touching infected sores.

Symptoms: Rapid development of red sores that rupture quickly, followed by oozing that forms a yellow-brown crust; itching; swollen lymph nodes.

13. Pubic Lice (Crabs)

Pubic lice are parasitic insects that occur in coarse hair of genital areas; however, sometimes, they can also be seen in other body hair. Poor hygiene and close contact pass these lice on.

Symptoms: Itching in the pubic area, visible lice or eggs in the hair, and secondary bacterial infections due to scratching.

What Are the Harmful Effects of Diseases That Poor Personal Hygiene Causes?

Poor personal hygiene is paramount to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The diseases caused by poor hygiene have harmful effects like:

Effects	Description
Body lice	Skin changes like discolouration and thickening, particularly around the groyne, waist, and upper thighs.
Scabies	Septicemia, chronic kidney disease, and heart diseases.
Trachoma	Swollen eyelids, discharge from eyes, and blindness.
Lymphatic filariasis	Damaged kidneys and lymphatic system and alters the immune system of the body.
Head Lice	Disturbance due to itchiness of the head and irritation; infections due to scratching.
Staph Infections	The skin can suffer from abscesses and boils to, in the worst-case scenario, systemic infections such as sepsis.
Candidiasis	Itching, redness, and discharge, typically in the genital area or mouth, can cause more serious systemic infections in immunocompromised persons.
Athlete's Foot	Itchy, red, peeling skin on feet may result in secondary bacterial infections.
Ringworm	Red, itchy, and scaly patches on the skin or scalp; if on the scalp, the patches can cause hair loss.
Giardiasis	Gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and nausea.
Pinworm infection	Itching around the anus, disturbed sleep, and irritability throughout the day
Impetigo	Red sores that can rupture, ooze, and form a yellow-brown crust are contagious.
Pubic Lice (Crabs)	Itching and hypermenorrhea in the pubic area; possible secondary bacterial infections.

Now that you know the harmful effects of the diseases caused by improper personal hygiene, let's learn how to diagnose them.

Risk Factors Associated with Poor Personal Hygiene Diseases

Most diseases are caused by poor personal hygiene. The risk factors that arise from diseases associated with poor hygiene include:

Risk Factors	Description
Poor Hand Washing	Predisposes one to infections like colds, flu, and gastrointestinal diseases.
Poor Oral Hygiene	It causes dental diseases, gum diseases, and systemic infections.
Poor Skin Hygiene	It predisposes to skin infections like impetigo, fungal infections, acne, etc.
Poor Bathing	It leads to body odour and skin irritations and is highly prone to infection.
Wearing dirty clothes	It can lead to skin irritations, rashes, and fungal infections in various body parts.
Failure to change bedding	Dirty bedding leads to skin infections, allergies, and respiratory disorders.
Poor handling of food	Exposure to food poisoning and contamination by viruses and bacteria.

This implies that such risk factors, therefore, can be reduced by good hygiene practices to reduce the potential risk of acquiring such diseases.

How to Diagnose the Diseases that Poor Personal Hygiene Causes?

Early diagnosis is necessary to identify the treatment required. Following methods are used to diagnose diseases caused by poor personal hygiene –

Diagnosis	Description
Body lice	It is identified by locating the eggs and lice crawling in the seams of clothes. However, a magnifying glass is used to identify these lice and nits, as they are invisible to the naked eye.
Scabies	The doctor diagnoses scabies by examining the person’s skin and looking for traces of mites, which includes the characteristic burrows.
Trachoma	Medical experts diagnose trachoma by sending bacteria samples from the patient's eyes to a laboratory for testing.
Lymphatic filariasis	Diagnosing lymphatic filariasis includes the identification of microfilariae in a blood sample. Microscopic examination is used to carry out this process.
Head Lice	Diagnosed by visually inspecting the scalp and hair for live lice and nits (eggs). A fine-toothed comb can help identify and remove lice and nits.
Staph Infections	Diagnosis includes clinical examination of symptoms such as redness, swelling, and pus. Laboratory tests, including bacterial cultures of wound samples or blood tests, confirm the presence of Staphylococcus bacteria.
Candidiasis	It is diagnosed by examining clinical symptoms such as oral thrush or genital itching. Laboratory tests, including cultures or microscopic examination of samples from affected areas, confirm the presence of Candida yeast.
Athlete's Foot	Diagnosed by clinical examination of symptoms like itching, redness, and peeling between toes or on the soles of the feet. Fungal cultures or skin scrapings may be examined microscopically to identify fungi.
Ringworm	It is identified by examining the skin for characteristic ring-shaped rashes. Fungal cultures or microscopic examination of skin scrapings may be used to confirm the presence of dermatophytes.
Giardiasis	Diagnosed through stool tests to identify Giardia lamblia cysts. A stool sample may be examined microscopically or using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) to detect the parasite.
Pinworm Infection	Diagnosed by identifying eggs around the anus. The "tape test" involves applying sticky tape to the anal area, then examining the tape under a microscope for pinworm eggs.
Impetigo	It is done based on clinical symptoms like honey-colored crusts on the skin. Bacterial cultures of skin samples can confirm the presence of Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes.
Pubic Lice (Crabs)	It is diagnosed by visual inspection of the pubic hair for lice and nits. A magnifying glass or microscope may be used to confirm the presence of lice and eggs.

What Is the Treatment for Diseases That Poor Personal Hygiene Causes?

The diseases caused by poor personal hygiene and sanitation can be treated in the following ways:

Disease	Description
Body Lice	Regular changing and cleaning of clothes, towels, and bedding.
Scabies	Permethrin cream, ivermectin, and crotamiton.
Trachoma	Tetracycline eye ointment and oral azithromycin.
Lymphatic Filariasis	Diethylcarbamazine (DEC).
Head Lice	Permethrin or pyrethrin treatments, nit combing.
Staph Infections	Antibiotics like dicloxacillin, cephalexin, or MRSA-specific antibiotics like vancomycin.
Candidiasis	Antifungal medications like fluconazole, clotrimazole, or miconazole.
Athlete’s Foot	Antifungal creams or sprays such as terbinafine, clotrimazole, or miconazole.
Ringworm	Antifungal topical treatments like terbinafine, clotrimazole, or miconazole.
Giardiasis	Antiprotozoal medications such as metronidazole or tinidazole.
Pinworm Infection	Medications like mebendazole or pyrantel pamoate.
Impetigo	Topical antibiotics like mupirocin or oral antibiotics like dicloxacillin.
Pubic Lice (Crabs)	Pediculicides containing permethrin or pyrethrin.

What Are the Preventive Measures to Control Diseases Caused by Poor Personal Hygiene?

One must take care of their hygiene to prevent the diseases caused by poor hygiene. Here is the list of 13 personal hygiene activities everyone should follow –

Wash your hair three times a week
Using coconut oil for your hair
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing
Getting rid of ear wax
Using natural deodorants
Keeping the body cool, especially during summer
Getting rid of bad breath
Taking a shower regularly
Maintain healthy and clean skin
Keep your feet clean
Trim and clean your nails regularly.
Change and launder clothing and bed linens frequently.
Practise proper hand hygiene.
Use clean and sanitised personal items.
Avoid sharing personal items.
Maintain a clean living environment.
Wear appropriate footwear in communal areas.
Stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet to support immune function.

Does Health Insurance Cover Diseases Caused by Poor Personal Hygiene?

Health insurance coverage for diseases related to poor personal hygiene will vary depending on the individual case and the nature of the policy. Most health insurance plans include all possible medical treatments against conditions like scabies, athlete's foot, and bacterial infections resulting from poor hygiene.

The coverage varies depending on the plan; some policies are more extensive than others. Therefore, individual health insurance plans should be reviewed to understand what kind of coverage is carried out and if authorisation is necessary for treatment. Insurance coverage may support medical treatments against hygiene-related diseases but does not pay for preventive measures or personal hygiene items.

Good personal hygiene not only protects you from the aforementioned diseases but also cuts down the risks of COVID-19. Furthermore, proper personal hygiene plays an essential role in an individual's overall well-being and appearance. Neglecting this may leave you vulnerable to several diseases caused by poor personal hygiene. Prioritise your personal hygiene to lead a healthy life free from irritation and embarrassment.

FAQs about Diseases Caused by Poor Personal Hygiene

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How can children avoid diseases caused by poor personal hygiene?

Children can steer clear of the diseases caused by poor personal hygiene by brushing their teeth twice a day, bathing regularly, properly washing their hands and keeping their nails tidy.

How can you set up a personal hygiene routine for children?

You can help children maintain a proper personal hygiene routine by setting reminders, using sings and guiding them to follow a ‘practice makes perfect’ approach.

What is body lice, and how is it spread?

Body lice are parasites that infest clothing and bedding. They spread through close contact and shared clothing.

How can scabies be transmitted?

Scabies are transmitted through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or by sharing bedding and clothing.

What is trachoma, and what causes it?

Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It spreads through contact with infected eye secretions or contaminated surfaces.

What is lymphatic filariasis, and how is it contracted?

Lymphatic filariasis is caused by parasitic worms transmitted through mosquito bites.

How do head lice spread, and what are the symptoms?

Head lice spread through direct head-to-head contact. Symptoms include itching and visible lice or nits in the hair.

What are staph infections, and how can they be prevented?

Staph infections are caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, which you can prevent by practising good hand hygiene and keeping wounds clean.

What is candidiasis, and what are the common symptoms?

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by Candida species, leading to symptoms like itching, redness, and discharge in affected areas.

What causes an athlete's foot, and how can it be treated?

Athlete's foot is caused by fungal infections, typically from walking barefoot in damp, communal areas. Treatment includes antifungal creams and keeping feet dry.

How is ringworm spread, and what are the signs?

Ringworm is a fungal infection spread through direct contact with infected skin or contaminated surfaces. Signs include red, itchy, ring-shaped rashes.

What are the symptoms of giardiasis, and how can it be avoided?

Giardiasis causes diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and nausea. It can be avoided by drinking safe water and practising good hygiene.

How is pinworm infection diagnosed and treated?

Pinworm infection is diagnosed through stool samples or tape tests. Treatment involves medications like mebendazole or pyrantel pamoate.

What causes pubic lice, and how can they be treated?

Pubic lice, or crabs, are caused by parasites infesting the pubic hair. Treatment includes pediculicides and washing affected clothing and bedding.