Health for All says
Respiratory infections are one of the common diseases during the cold winter months, and transmission between family members is even more inevitable. How to do a good job of disinfection at home to prevent the spread of respiratory infections?As an experienced veteran Chinese medicine practitioner, I will combine the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, quote ancient and modern famous prescriptions, and introduce you to some scientific and feasible disinfection and infection prevention methods.
First, we need to understand how respiratory infections are transmitted. In general, respiratory infections are spread through droplet transmission, direct contact, and indirect contact. Therefore, it is particularly important to do a good job of protection.
Droplet transmission is the most common route of infection, and droplets containing pathogens are ejected when a sick person coughs or sneezes. The pathogens in these droplets can be transmitted to others through tiny particles in the air. To reduce the likelihood of droplet transmission, family members are advised to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing, while keeping the room well ventilated. In addition, some herbs with antibacterial effects can be used for air disinfection, such as skullcap, forsythia, etc., which can be ground into powder and sprinkled in indoor air to inhibit the spread of pathogens.
Direct contact is infection caused by contact with the patient or by touching the secretions excreted by the patient. In the home, special attention should be paid to maintaining personal hygiene, and it is very important to wash hands and disinfect frequently. Use running water and soap to wash your hands thoroughly, especially between your fingers and nails, for at least 20 seconds. For household items and utensils, it is recommended to disinfect them with high temperature cleaning or disinfectant solution to ensure thorough sanitize.
Indirect contact refers to infection by touching objects contaminated with pathogens, such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, etc., and then touching the mouth and nose with hands. To reduce the risk of infection from such contacts, it is recommended to disinfect household items regularly. Some Chinese herbs with antibacterial and disinfecting effects, such as Sophora sophora radix and Radix radix, can be boiled into a concentrated potion that can be used to wipe household surfaces and items to effectively kill pathogens. In addition, common disinfectants such as alcohol and bleach can also be used for disinfection, but attention should be paid to the dilution ratio and use method when using.
In addition to the above-mentioned transmission routes and disinfection methods, there are some ancient empirical formulas in TCM that can help prevent and alleviate respiratory tract infections. Among them, the most famous is ephedra soup, one of the four famous prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine. The composition of ephedra soup is very simple and mainly consists of ephedra, cinnamon sticks, almonds, and licorice. It has the effect of diverging wind chill and promoting pulmonary dialysis, and is suitable for colds, flu and other diseases in the early stage. In addition, there are some Chinese patent medicines, such as heat-clearing and detoxification tablets, honeysuckle granules, etc., which can be used as an auxiliary choice.
All in all, disinfection and infection prevention is an important part of preventing the spread of respiratory infections. The risk of transmission among family members can be effectively reduced through the rational use of herbs, cleaning items, and frequent hand washing. At the same time, frequent ventilation and maintaining a good indoor environment are also very important to help maintain fresh air and reduce the growth of pathogens. Most importantly, maintaining good hygiene Xi and strengthening the body's immunity is the most effective way to prevent respiratory infections.
Health References:
1. world health organization. guidelines for the prevention and control of infection in healthcare. 2nd ed. 2019.