Hand hygiene is an important way to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and, when there is no soap and water, an alcohol-based hand cleanser is the next best way to do this.
Disinfectants have appeared in malls, schools, workplaces, etc., to make it easier for people to disinfect their hands.
One consequence, however, documented in France, has been harm to children who accidentally received eye disinfectant.
The cases of children who have had eye exposure to these products have increased 7 times during April and August 2020.
16 children ended up in a pediatric hospital because they had sprayed disinfectant in the eye, compared to only 1 case in 2019. Two serious cases ended up in surgeries, which fortunately resulted in success.
The hospital cases were all with children under 4 years of age. The greatest danger, according to research, may come from disinfectants installed in public places. This is because the height at which they are placed usually coincides with the same length as the eyes of children at these ages.
In another study, doctors in India detailed the cases of two children who had accidentally received disinfectant in the eye. The 4-year-old complained that she could not bear to see the light, while the 5-year-old had eyelid injuries. Both children were eventually recovered after appropriate treatments.
Doctors recommend the following steps:
- Encourage hand washing with soap and water more than with disinfectant
- Teaching and training children how to use disinfectants
- Having different disinfectants for children (preferably at lower altitudes) and adults in shopping malls, etc.
"In an emergency, wet your eyes with water after chemical exposure."
Source: CNN
