CHILDREN and young people need to be taught how to wash their hands correctly to reduce risk of infections, a medicines watchdog has advised.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said good handwashing and drying techniques should be encouraged to help reduce the likelihood of spreading germs.

They believe this would limit the use of antibiotics.

Its new advice says that liquid soap and tepid running water are key to good hand hygiene.

Nice's guidance also calls for teenagers at university to be taught how to care for themselves if they contract an illness such as cold or flu.

Meanwhile, Meningitis Now, the charity, has warned that first-time students must be vigilant over their symptoms because meningitis could easily be mistaken for cold or flu.

Health authorities across the world are trying to reduce antibiotic use to slow the growth of antimicrobial resistance.

The watchdog adds that children at nurseries and schools should be taught good hygiene, particularly after going to the toilet, before eating and after being in close contact with people with colds or other infections.