Is hand washing effective?

I know soap and water can't kill the hepatitis virus alone, but what if you feel as though you need to wash your hands after handling a public pen, phone, etc.?

Does washing your hands actually do anything or will the virus remain on your hands?

[WriteItDown]

Hep C is transmitted via blood contact. Washing your hands will have no effect. Maybe you're thinking of Hep A?

[paperweight123]

No, I mean... okay, I have OCD and I will admit it. I'm just always thinking "what if someone had a cut on their hands while they used this pen or phone that I am now using with a cut also on my hand", and I want to wash my hands, will that wash away the virus or is the virus always going to be on my hand?

Not sure if I'm making sense :S

[WriteItDown]

You can't get it like that. Period.

[paperweight123]

Ahh, really?

I know that you probably deal with a lot of OCD people here lol. so sorry if I annoy you but yeah in my mind its just such a likely way to get it.

but yeah... ill just try and take your words to heart that its an unlikely way to get it. so handwashing should be good enough as a preventative measure, yeah?

[lynda607]

You touch things in public places people have touched before and you'll never know what kind of disease may be lingering.   Grocery stores, pharmacy, clothing stores, restaurants, just to name a few.  You shouldn't preoccupy yourself with such notions, it'll make you crazy.

[paperweight123]

lynda, are you saying that i should be worried about contracting diseases in such situations?

[can-do-man]

They have a OCD forum here, you should check it out...... Nothing for you here

[paperweight123]

yeah ill have to check that out.

but IS hand washing effective at all?

[hrsepwrguy]

by WriteItDown , 12 hours ago
You can't get it like that. Period.

[paperweight123]

i'm just asking for future reference so I dont have to come on here with anymore scenarios.

[suezeeque]

Your question has been answered.

[paperweight123]

"Does washing your hands actually do anything or will the virus remain on your hands?"

no it hasn't.

[hrsepwrguy]

To have the virus on your hands they would have to be blood soaked and your much to OCD for that !!!

[hrsepwrguy]

by lynda607 , 12 hours ago
To: paperweight123You touch things in public places people have touched before and you'll never know what kind of disease may be lingering.   Grocery stores, pharmacy, clothing stores, restaurants, just to name a few.  You shouldn't preoccupy yourself with such notions, it'll make you crazy.


However lynda makes a good point you never know if third person back that used that pen or picked up that can of corn had a bleeding cut or even a little bloody saliva from nose bleeds and sneezing at the same time, you just never know what might be out there, but I think if you wash your hands you will be alright

[suezeeque]

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/c/cfaq.htm

Do some reading.  Then try to figure out how to help yourself with respect to your OCD.  Because I doubt anything anyone here says will assist.

[can-do-man]

"i'm just asking for future reference so I dont have to come on here with anymore scenarios."

Give me a break, you will be back under a different name as soon as they boot you once again. So have fun while you can..........

[MagTX]

In case you are for real and have OCD. How bout you use your own pen, phone, cup etc...however, your perception on how people catch diseases is so bad, even if you are being for real.  If it were the way you say than don't you think the entire world would have something that they caught thru a shopping trip to the mall, to the bank, or to Disney....  really?    And what bout the food you've been eating, do ya have to spray it down with clorox before you eat b/c someone else handled it before you ....   :>/