While using public toilets, women often worry about contracting Urinary Tract Infections(UTIs). Studies show that women are at a greater risk of developing UTIs than men. However, doctors have often emphasized it is unlikely to get UTI from merely sitting on the toilet.
According to Mayo Clinic, if the infection is limited to the bladder, then it can be extremely painful. But if the infection spreads to the kidneys, then it can lead to some health issues.
What causes UTI?
When the bacteria that cause a UTI enter the body, they multiply, causing pain and inflammation. The urinary system’s defense mechanism fails as the bacteria multiply, resulting in an infection.
An individual can get tainted with UTIs either by cleaning back to front rather than the opposite way around (as the microorganisms from gastrointestinal districts enter the genital locale and contaminate the urethra )or by giving the urethral opening come access to contact with the outer layer of the latrine seat
Urinary Tract Infections are extremely common
According to Dr. Asha Hiremath, Obstetrician, Gynaecologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon, Motherhood Hospitals, Indiranagar, Bangalore, UTIs are an extremely common form of infection that affects the urinary system ranging from kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
When looking at UTIs, it was found that women are more likely to get them than men are because women have a shorter urethra—the tube that connects the bladder to the outside world and is where urine leaves the body. The shorter urethra makes it easier for germs to get into the bladder, making women more likely to get urinary tract infections.
How to treat UTI?
He added that in order to prevent the infection from spreading to the kidneys or the bloodstream, which can be life-threatening, it is essential to treat a UTI and take antibiotics. First, the doctor takes a clean sample of the patient’s urine and looks for signs of the bacteria that cause UTI. In conclusion, it is safe to say that infections like UTI cannot be transmitted to anyone if the urethra does not come into contact with the toilet seat.
Important to practice good hygiene habits
Be that as it may, there are sure circumstances where utilizing a public bathroom can expand the gamble of fostering a UTI. A public restroom, for instance, can become a breeding ground for bacteria if it is not kept clean or maintained appropriately.
- UTIs are not sent through contact with a latrine seat.
- Microbes can’t make due for significant stretches of time on a dry surface, for example, a latrine seat.
- Bacteria cannot enter the urethra because the skin on the buttocks and thighs acts as a natural barrier.
- There is no reason to be concerned about contracting a UTI from a toilet seat as long as you adhere to good hygiene practices like wiping from front to back after using the restroom.
Precautions to be taken by women
These are the following precautions that women can take to prevent UTIs.
- Clean public toilet seats before urinating.
- Clean the private parts from front, and not from back to front.
- Wash hands thoroughly after urination.
- One should sit properly on the toilet seat, so as not to leave any residual urine.