This is my humble opinion, but I thought others might share it, so I'm putting it out here:

Maybe it's just what I've become aware of in my own experience (and I'm NOT a health professional, btw! :cool: ), but it always seems that the people who are trying the hardest to avoid any and all germs/bacteria/viruses are the ones that still wind up getting really sick.

A certain amount of germs in your environment is actually GOOD for your immune system, as it "keeps up your defenses." Eliminating too many opportunities for your body to develop it's own defenses to germs just makes you more susceptible, IMHO.

Keeping an antiseptically clean home/work area, washing your hands every hour on the hour, treating yourself with OTC meds for every symptom robs your body of it's ability to heal itself.

It's certainly true that we are a much cleaner society, as a whole, than we were, say, 100 years ago, and we know a lot more about health issues now than we did back then, I think it's possible to carry it too far. Naturally, those who know they are immune-compromised would still need to take every precaution to avoid germs, but for the rest of us with normal immune systems, I think we have, as a society, become entirely too "germ-phobic." :rolleyes:

My son was the only child in his kindergarten who had perfect attendance the entire school year. I credit the fact that he's been exposed to other peoples' germs (besides immediate family's! :D )since he was three months old...unlike most of the other students, going to school did not result frequent bouts of illness, as it is my guess that he had already developed an immunity to most of the germs to which he was exposed there.

To a certain extent I think you're correct -- that there's a lot of overkill on the antibacterial product usage; however, I do think it's important during flu and cold season to wash your hands after being out and about. Especially when touching grocery carts. I've noticed during holiday shopping the number of people who don't bother covering their mouths or noses when they cough or sneeze. Plus if small children use the carts, there's always the potential for rotovirus, which can live on surfaces for quite awhile.

I keep antibacterial foam in my purse just in case I'm somewhere I can't wash my hands --- if I'm out shopping, handle money and decide to have a snack.

Anti-bacterial products are good to a certain degree, but they can only do so much. I remember reading then later hearing from a doctor that colds and flu are caused by viruses so AB products do nothing to prevent them. Only regular hand washing with regular soap will do that. AB will help to protect against anything bacterial of course.

Nancy

You brought up a good point, BioAdoptMom3....the fact that all too often, people think that anti-bacterial means anti-germs-of-any-kind, but it doesn't.

Viruses are the most virulent disease causing germs, but there's really not much you can do to cure a virus-caused illness once you get it, that's why prevention is key.

Which brings me to the topic of the over-prescribing of antibiotics to misunderstanding parents who demand them even when it's clear to the physician that the child is NOT suffering from a bacterial illness. The physicians know that antibiotics won't help the viral infection, but it makes the parents happy, and if the parents aren't happy, they switch physicians, so the physicians prescribe them. :rolleyes:

You are so right about the antibiotics! I think another big reason why infections are becoming antibiotic resistant is because patients often don't finish the antibiotics when they have been prescribed and need to be taken!

Nancy

To a certain extent I think you're correct -- that there's a lot of overkill on the antibacterial product usage; however, I do think it's important during flu and cold season to wash your hands after being out and about. Especially when touching grocery carts. I've noticed during holiday shopping the number of people who don't bother covering their mouths or noses when they cough or sneeze. Plus if small children use the carts, there's always the potential for rotovirus, which can live on surfaces for quite awhile.

I keep antibacterial foam in my purse just in case I'm somewhere I can't wash my hands --- if I'm out shopping, handle money and decide to have a snack.
First on shopping carts.... I have a friend who manages a grocery store. Every year they are required by law to have a team come in to test surfaces. They test everything from the salad bar, meat counter, check out isles right down to the shopping carts. Year after year the worst results of "germs" come from shopping carts. If you really think about it the only time they get "cleaned" is out in the rain OR when a person such as myself cleans them with wipes or gels. Babies and toddlers are in there drooling and eating not to mention what is on the adults hands :rolleyes:
Now onto Antibioitcs.... I am beginning to think this is a scam to A. get another co pay for another office visit and B the pharmacutal companies are getting kick backs.
For years I have noticed this pattern. I will take one of my kids in and they take a quick look and tell me "it's virial" then they suggest about 3 over the counter things to try and proceed to tell me "if it's not better in two weeks come back" I would estimate 8 out of ten times it's not better and back I go ching ching another 20 dollar co pay.
After two weeks they give antibiotics? Forty dollars later not to mention the trip to walgreens to get the Clariton which didn't work and the multitude of cough meds that didn't work which cost about 20 bucks total I have spend almost 70 bucks per illness?
I have two friends who are nurses and have told me they know there is a scam going on. The new thing is "it's allergies" sorry Dr. but I have allergies and I don't cough up green plem!
Not to sound too syncial but strange things are a foot in the medical/pharmacutical world.