The Invisible Enemy on Little Hands: Not Just Water—Soap is Ryan’s True Shield!

Every day, before sitting down to eat, Ryan forgets to wash his hands with soap. He gets scolded by his mother about this every day. What’s the harm in just washing with water? Why does mom insist on it? Little Ryan can’t find the answer to these questions. Out of curiosity, he asks his mother.
What’s the problem if I wash my hands only with water and not with soap?
Ryan’s mother, a microbiologist, gives a very clear answer.
Let’s learn what can happen if you only wash with water:
A few problems may arise if you wash only with water instead of soap:

1. Bacteria and viruses aren’t properly removed – Harmful bacteria and viruses (such as coronavirus, rotavirus, E. coli) on your hands are not easily washed away with only water.
2. Odor may remain on the skin – Soap is needed to remove the bad smell from your hands caused by oil, grease, or sweat.
3. Increased risk of infection – If hands aren’t washed thoroughly with soap before eating or after using the toilet, the risk of fever, diarrhea, food poisoning, hepatitis, etc. increases.
4. Oil and dirt remain – Oil, sticky dirt, and germs are not completely removed from the hands by just rinsing with water.

So, for a healthy life, it is very important to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with handwash or soap.
Viruses and bacterial infections can cause serious illnesses. Below are some common diseases and their associated risks:

✅ Viral infections may cause:

1. Colds, coughs, influenza (Flu)
2. Diarrhea (Rotavirus, Norovirus)
3. Hepatitis A and E
4. COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
5. Chikungunya, Dengue (if the virus is spread by mosquitoes)

✅ Bacterial infections may cause:

1. Typhoid fever (Salmonella Typhi)
2. Cholera (Vibrio cholerae)
3. Food poisoning
4. E. coli infection
5. Tuberculosis

✅ The importance of using soap in disease prevention:

1. Soap destroys the protective covering of germs – For many viruses, soap breaks down the outer protein coat, making them inactive.
2. Removes oil and dirt – Where germs hide.
3. Reduces the risk of infection by 50–70% – According to the World Health Organization (WHO), regular handwashing with soap alone can prevent many contagious diseases.

Especially important times to use soap:

• After using the toilet
• Before and after eating
• After coughing or sneezing
• After coming home from outside
• After touching someone who is sick

Soap doesn’t just mean cleanliness, it’s a protective shield.
After hearing all this, Ryan can’t believe that so many deadly organisms live on his tiny hands! Truly, this universe is mysterious.

Tahsin Ahmed Supti
Student (Department of Botany), National University.
Interested in Microbiology, Agronomy, and Horticulture.