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Will I Be Infected After Touching Contaminated Clothes And Bag?

Posted on Tue, 21 Jan 2014

Question: I was talking to a man and we were talking and he said he had some cookies that a lady took his bag by mistake with all his clothes in the bag did not rewalizr he was homeless So he asked to feel his bag before he said anything that heas was homeless So i picked it up up I grabbed something else condfident it was a plastic ball mnot sure should i be concerned ?Diesases

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Mild infections caused by fomites Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome to health care magic. I have gone through your query and I understand your concern about getting exposed to any infection by touching contaminated clothes, bags etc. These are called as fomites. Infection spread by fomites are mild infections and usually self limiting. The intact skin acts as protective barrier and infection is spread by bacteria like staphylococcus, streptococcus only when there is break of skin like in an insect bite or scratch. I would like to suggest you wash your hands with a good antiseptic solution and quit worrying unnecessarily about this episode. If you are having any other symptoms, please get back with details and I can help you further. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (2 days later)

Thans I have a different question I wrote an email to someone else but I wrote the wrong email addrerss to director of security it said Any More wristsbands!!!!!!!!!! from MLB Players Can i get terminated by this epsiode thanks

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (8 hours later)

Brief Answer: Query not clear Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome back. There seems to be some confusion about email addresses. Your query is not clear. Please get back with clear details regarding any symptoms you are suffering from. You are writing to a healthcare forum and your queries are answered by doctors. Please elaborate more on your symptoms and signs to help us understand your health problem and assist you accordingly. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (3 hours later)

this email I sent to another person can i gewt terminated by this this was going to someone else this was sent at the director of security

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (30 hours later)

Brief Answer: Please get back with any medical problems Detailed Answer: Hi, Please get back with any medical problems. I will be able to help you only if you elaborate on any medical problems you are having. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (29 hours later)

Can I tell if glands are swallon

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (11 hours later)

Brief Answer: Lymph nodes swelling Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome back. Lymph nodes are glands present in different parts of the body and their main function is drainage of lymph and production of cells which help in fighting against any infection in the body. These cells are called lymphocytes which are main cells involved in body immunity. The lymph nodes get swollen when there is any infection or tumor in the site that they drain. For example, if swelling of lymph node in neck then there is infection in the ear, nose or throat. These swollen lymph nodes can be felt as small firm lumps. These are significant if they are increasing in size, become hard, become tender or matted. If you are having swollen lymph nodes, get them examined by a GP nearby you to confirm if they are significant or not. He can also determine if you have any infection and need any treatment. I hope I have cleared your doubts. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (1 hour later)

hiw can i tell if thy are swealloin

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Lymph nodes examination Detailed Answer: Hi, Lymph nodes examination can be done by palpation. Palpation is a method of feeling with the fingers or hands during a physical examination. You can feel for them at particular sites like neck, below the jaw, armpit, groin etc. and they are felt as firm lumps if they are swollen. A doctor can help you to determine if they are swollen or not by touching and feeling them to examine the size, consistency, texture, location, and tenderness. So I would suggest you get in touch with a GP nearby you for a physical exam of lymph nodes. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (11 hours later)

Swallon would i able to tell if they are swallon or not would warmth be a sighn If I go for a Normal Blood test and my wbc count is normal worry about an infection

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: WBC count in Infection Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome back. Warmth, as such, is a subjective feeling. Lymph nodes are palpable only when they are swollen. So if you find them on touching then they are swollen. Infection is indicated if they are increasing in size and are painful to touch. WBC count in usually increased in infections. Normal count is about 4000-11000cells/mm3. If more then 11000 cells found in blood test, it indicates infection. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (18 hours later)

I gave two fives to one of my cworkers and I believed I washed my hands and for a period of time? now I had skittles in that hand that I gave him 5 with i put my mouth in the center of my hand where I gave him 5 where the candy was Should i be worry dieases? germs I dont knowe if he was wounded ?

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: Normal microbial flora in the mouth and hand Detailed Answer: Hi, I understand that you are worried that you might acquire infection by touching a contaminated hand of a co worker and then eating a candy with the same hand. I would like to assure you that they are less chances of you acquiring an infection because of the following reasons: 1. Normal microbial flora in hand and mouth acts as protective barrier and does not allow other bacteria to cause infection so easily. 2. Saliva in the mouth has antibacterial substances which kill any small amount of bacteria that may have entered the mouth. So please quit worrying about such trivial exposure episodes. I would also suggest you carry a hand sanitizer with you and use it regularly whenever you touch a suspected contaminated surface. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (1 hour later)

Now I have to worry? I did not have hand samtizer with me. ):

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (11 hours later)

Brief Answer: Tip for the future Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome back. I suggested that in future you carry a hand sanitizer with you and use it regularly as you seem apprehensive about coming in contact with germs by touching. Hand sanitizers are available over the counter and you can get one from a nearby medical store. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (3 hours later)

thanks for your answer listen I have another question for you I had one of the cards that we get from the Pharamcy and the end piece fell apart and here was a sharp at the end of it and by accident it go my prinked my finger few weeks ago i threw it away but i want to to keep it now I have doubts of what pricked me? im thinking the worst it did not make me bleed though

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (8 hours later)

Brief Answer: Need not worry about minor scratch Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome back. If it was a minor scratch you need not worry about it. It would have healed by now. The possibility of getting any kind of infection by that minor prick is nil. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (8 hours later)

the thing is i dont know if it was a needle or not im thinking about this

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: Please do not worry unnecessarily Detailed Answer: Hi, I understand your concern, but you are worrying unnecessarily about that episode. I can only suggest you take care in future while dealing with sharps. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (11 hours later)

So what should i do

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Handling sharp objects Detailed Answer: Hi, You need to be careful while handling sharp objects in future to avoid injuries. Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (31 minutes later)

I mean dieases if i take a regular blood test and my wblood count is a normal number that mea no no infecions? if it a slightly high still normal or no

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (7 hours later)

Brief Answer: WBC count Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome back. Normal WBC count is 4000-11000 cells/mm3. If it is increased more than 11,000 it suggests some kind of infection in the body. An elevation in the white blood cell count is very non-specific and does not point to one single abnormality. A doctor has to to decide on examination if the high WBC count is significant or not. I hope I have cleared your doubts. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (15 hours later)

So if it a like a number or two high? infection Im getting pics and needles throughtout my whole body it sometimes ittches as well in the Past its from my neck i pulled something at work and im getting rashes as well what do you think the rashes are from I notice my tip of my tounge is bright it looks like a pimple on it not sure Should i go to take a blood test for this epsiode any action thanks how ever not direahy only one one time