Should F0 abstain from bathing and washing hair?
Experts and doctors say that the information that F0 must abstain from bathing is completely wrong. Keeping the body clean and the room clean is the way to quickly recover from the disease.
Recently, on some forums, there has been information warning F0 to abstain from bathing and washing hair because bathing and washing hair will make the disease worse.
Specifically, on the forum for F0s, a member had a family member infected with the disease.Covid-19shared, her family member was infected with SARS-CoV-2 on the 7th day with mild symptoms (cough, stuffy nose). Things got worse when this F0 went to take a bath. Specifically, after bathing, this person had a fever of 38.8 degrees, SpO2 decreased for 2 consecutive days, then 90-92, sometimes down to 88, 89. The patient had to be hospitalized, within 2 days the condition worsened continuously, had to breathe oxygen, and showed signs of a "cytokine storm". This member also confirmed that many patients in the treatment room also said that most of them got worse after 1 bath.
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| Isolating Covid-19 infected cases at their residence according to inter-family groups and households in Nghi Hoa commune, Nghi Loc district. Photo courtesy of Thanh Son |
Another opinion also confirmed that her husband had a fever of 39-40 degrees after taking a bath and it got worse. Another member also agreed, after taking a bath, she coughed a lot, SpO2 dropped to 86, had to use oxygen. "It's been 15 days since she recovered but her lungs collapsed, along with all the post-Covid symptoms," the above member shared more.
Therefore, they all advise that if you have Covid-19, you should not bathe, just wipe your body to avoid serious complications. The above sharing has made many F0s worried.
However, according to experts, the concept that F0 "should not bathe or wash their body" for many reasons such as making the disease worse, cold water makes the body weaker, catching "wind cold" (cold wind), the sick body is susceptible to external pathogens... is not appropriate.
Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, former Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neurology, Children's Hospital 1 (HCMC), affirmed: "The notion that F0s abstain from bathing is a misconception."
Dr. Khanh said: “The weather in the North is cold, patients can bathe with warm water, do not bathe with cold water, avoid bathing while sick (do not soak the whole body in the bathtub). After that, we put on clothes in the bathroom, do not leave the room to put on clothes, causing the body to suddenly get cold.”
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| Families need to make a list of locations and items that need to be cleaned and disinfected. Prepare chemicals with appropriate concentrations and ensure ventilation when cleaning in a house with F0 in quarantine. Photo: Document |
Doctors also recommend that after bathing, you should dry your body and hair with a towel, avoid using a fan or standing in a windy place to prevent catching a cold.
“If you don't shower, your body will be unhygienic, itchy, causing discomfort, and insomnia, making the disease worse,” Dr. Khanh affirmed.
Similarly, Dr. Duong Van Trung, Head of the Department of Urology, Post Office Hospital - who is advising many F0s for home treatment, also denied the view that F0s must completely abstain from bathing and washing their hair.
According to Dr. Trung, patients should bathe with warm water. Bathing and washing should not take too long, patients should bathe in the morning or early afternoon and avoid at night, and avoid bathing when they have a fever. "Cleanliness is a good way to prevent Covid," said Dr. Duong Van Trung.
According to doctors, bathing and shampooing helps to release dead skin cells (dirt), clears the skin, improves sweat gland secretion, improves blood circulation, reduces joint pain and swelling, improves mental health, and improves sleep. In many hospitals, the ICU department still regularly dries and shampoos patients who stay in bed for a long time.
To avoid complications, when bathing, use warm water, bathe quickly in a sheltered place, dry your body and clothes after bathing, and blow dry your hair.
In addition to bathing and personal hygiene, patients should also pay attention to hygiene in eating and living in order to create a clean and airy space. Eating a balanced diet, keeping a relaxed spirit and exercising regularly will help you recover quickly. Excessive abstinence and anxiety will bring on more illness.
