Consequences of Poor Hygiene in Elderly

Poor hygiene in and of itself doesn’t cause lice, but poor hygiene can allow lice to keep spreading from person to person. Lice are tiny bugs that can be found in body hair (such as in head hair or pubic hair) and feed on scalp blood. Lice infestations are very common in daycares, homeless shelters, and nursing homes. Having access to clean clothes, clean sheets, and regular bathing is crucial for preventing the spread of lice.

Athlete’s foot is basically a contagious fungal infection that begins in between the toes. People who sweat a lot, have tight fitting shoes, and/or who have poor hygiene have a higher risk of developing athlete’s foot. People can easily contract athlete’s foot through community showers, public swimming pools, locker rooms, and dirty linens.

Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus. If you get ringworm on your feet, this is considered athlete’s foot. Ringworm causes circular rashes on the skin and can spread through dirty hands, sheets, clothes, towels, etc.

Tooth decay is basically extensive damage to the tooth’s enamel. This can occur when oral bacteria creates acids that destroy teeth. Tooth decay is often a direct result of poor oral hygiene. Over time, tooth decay can lead to chronic mouth pain, bad breath, infection, and tooth loss.

Failing to wash hands frequently enough, especially before eating, can lead to a variety of gastrointestinal issues and illnesses including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Poor food hygiene can lead to all of these issues as well. People with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, have a higher risk of developing and dying from gastrointestinal illnesses. That’s because any type of infection can lead to sepsis, especially without quick medical treatment.

Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of skin infection that is resistant to many kinds of antibiotics. Many medical professionals call it the “Superbug” for this reason.

The MRSA bacteria naturally exists in many body parts such as the groin, nose, armpits, and buttocks. Additionally, the CDC claims that 2 out of every 100 people are carrying the MRSA bacteria. This doesn’t mean that 2 out of every 100 people have a MRSA infection though. It does mean that people with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, can easily contract MRSA through a carrier, especially if poor hygiene is involved. Without good hygiene and prompt medical treatment, MRSA infections can cause seniors to suffer from blood infections, pneumonia, sepsis, and death.

Bedsores, or pressure ulcers, are another common issue in nursing homes, especially if nursing home abuse and neglect is present. Untreated bed sores can easily lead to a MRSA infection in an elderly person.

Hot tub rash is basically a skin infection caused by the bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa. As suggested by the name, this rash frequently occurs after people bathe or swim in dirty pools, lakes, hot tubs, bath tubs, or showers.

Scabies is a contagious skin infestation caused by mites that burrow into the top layers of skin and lay eggs. This is another condition that isn’t necessarily caused by poor hygiene in and of itself, but can spread easily between people if they don’t practice good hygiene.