Disinfectants for little children

Question

Dear expert team,
my son (14 months old, CF) starts to find it's feet and is in the investigator's phase. Because of this, he is taking everything in his hands and unfortunately also in his mouth. As we are often in the forest, I am looking for a hand disinfectant, that can already be used in little children, in case one cannot wash the hands. Most of the available preparations are only licensed for children older than 3 years. While doing my research, I found a preparation that contains only water and hypochloric acid (HCIO, containing chlorine 10-30PPM) and should kill 99,9% of all bacteria without application time. It is said to be used even for baby hands, suckers and bottles. Unfortunately I am not a chemist and have not any knowledge of those things, that is why I am a bit sceptical. That chlorine kills germs, seems clear to me, as it is yet also used in swimming-pools, but what about hypochloric acid? Is that really acting and is it indeed not harmful? Would you, if necessary, have an alternative for me, that can already be used in little children, who have constantly their hands in their mouth?
I would be happy to get your advice!
Bedst regards, L.B.

Answer

Hello,
The usage of a hygienic disinfectant in the private everyday life has to be dehorted. There is a certain potential to cause allergies and there is the question about the effectiveness of a certain preparation. Washing the hands is the most simple and best method. The risk of transmission of CF typical microorganisms is very small when basic rules in the household or in nature are taken into account.

The question, if the mentioned preparation has a sufficient effectiveness against bacteria and viruses, can not be answered securely if one does not know the product.
To your question: are children allowed at all to use hand disinfectants? The drug licensing of hand disinfectants is in general done for adults. As there are no specfic hand disinfectants licensend for children, this does not mean that children are not allowed or should not disinfect their hands. School children can learn how to disinfect thier hands, should however do the disinfection under supervision.
It is important, that children do not touch their eyes with freshly disinfected hands.
In younger children (like in your case), it is better that the hands are disinfected by an adult, by taking the hands of the child into his hands, then rubbing the preparation and waiting for the application time (in general 30 seconds). Hand dinsinfecting towls are reserved as exception. They can however destroy the protecting lipid layer of the hands via the mechanical effect, dry out the skind and should therefore not be used routinely in everyday life.
Best regards,
Jörg Steinmann

04.06.2015