2006-10-25 11:08:22 · 5 answers · asked by deberrynancy 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
I thought the heat draws out the infection. It works on boils.....sorry, I know it's gross.
2006-10-25 11:18:40 · answer #1 · answered by porkchop 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it's soap and hot water help heal an infection, by preventing one from starting. If you wash a wound soon after it happens under running water, you rinse away alot of the gross contamination.
Sterilization with boiling water works on the same principle as cooking. You are killing the bacteria by denaturing the protein structures which make them up. Heat, 'unfolds' the protein. This is why egg white becomes solid when cooking, you are coagulating the albumin protein that makes up the egg white.
If you alreay have an infection, it's too late for hot water, and only antibiotics work.
Also, some bacteria are resistant to heating, or their toxins don't break down in cooking, like the botulinum toxin, which resists denaturing and can still kill you. Ditto for some spores, and viruses.
2006-10-25 18:15:39 · answer #2 · answered by phantomlimb7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a doctor.
I've always thought it was due to the increased blood flow as a result of the hot water. If you use soap and wash the wound, it will also help.
Mike Honeycutt
2006-10-25 18:16:27 · answer #3 · answered by mahoneycuttnc2002 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dilates blood vessels giving blood cells and antibodies better access to the site.
2006-10-25 18:57:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hot water kills viruses
2006-10-25 18:15:57 · answer #5 · answered by cayla_152 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋