Man Shares Risks Of Not Washing Hands After His Baby Girl Almost Dies

One dad realized how disastrous forgetting to wash your hands can be after his infant daughter nearly lost her life.

Cosmopolitan reports the Memphis-area man (who goes by "andnowforsomethingcompletelydifferent" on Imgur) posted a photo of his baby girl after she contracted Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a highly contagious infection. She contracted the virus while getting treated at the hospital for viral meningitis.

As her father wrote of the terrifying experience,

We almost lost her last Monday. Our local hospital told us if she got any worse there was nothing more they could do for her... RSV is no joke. I didn't know much about it until a week ago when it almost took my daughter from me. Please make sure to wash your hands before handling little ones.

RSV

Dr. Ari Brown, the author behind "Baby 411," explained in the past how having RSV feels similar to suffering "the worst cold you've ever had." To that point, she added,

RSV is not only spread through droplets, but through contact on surfaces like the grocery cart that your baby touches that another ill child was coughing on an hour earlier. So we definitely encourage really good hygiene especially this time of year. But could somebody die if you don't wash hands? Technically, yes.

Luckily, the baby is doing better and will likely make a full recovery. This serves as a good reminder for parents and children alike to take your doctor's orders. When it comes to washing your hands thoroughly and frequently, it could mean the difference for you or your baby's survival.

Citations: Dad Who Almost Lost His Baby Warns About the Dangers of Not Washing Your Hands (Cosmopolitan)