Touching your body on the toilet seat may give you the scares of UTI. Yes, using toilet seats do cause urinary infection, but merely sitting on the toilet seat may not cause urinary infection. In fact dehydration and holding your urine are bigger causes of UTI.
Many women worry about contracting urinary tract infections or UTI from toilet seats, especially if they are using a public toilet. While it is true that women, more than men, are at a greater risk of suffering from UTI, there is little truth to the fact that they can get it from merely sitting on a toilet seat.
Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs, although fungi rarely can also infect the urinary tract. E. coli bacteria, which live in the bowel, cause most UTIs. The female anatomy contributes to women's increased likelihood of contracting a UTI.
Symptoms of vaginitis or “toilet infections” include rash, blisters or bumps, itching, burning sensation, redness, swelling and dryness of the vagina or the vulva. It may also present as a discomfort felt during urination, pain during sex, and as spotting and foul smelling discharges from the vagina.
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.
We cannot get a UTI from a toilet, as the urethra does not touch the seat. As long as the urethra does not come into contact with the seat, we are safe from certain infections. The toilet seat is not a common way for bacteria to enter our bodies.
UTIs typically develop when bacteria get into the urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply in the bladder. That can happen as a result of not wiping properly after a child goes to the bathroom. Holding urine for prolonged periods or constipation can also increase the risk of UTIs.
However, even if there are fewer of them, you may still encounter various germs on your toilet seat including fecal bacteria, influenza, streptococcus, E. coli, hepatitis, MRSA, salmonella, shigella and norovirus.
Streptococcus and Staphylococcus are two kinds of bacteria that have been found on toilet seats; the first can cause throat infection and impetigo, the second can cause skin infections, including boils and cellulitis. And viruses, such as the common cold virus and hepatitis A, can be found on toilet seats as well.
Bacteria generally do not survive well under conditions of desiccation; however, Newsom (1972) demonstrated the survival of Salmonella on surfaces for up to 9 days, Escherichia coli for up to 8 days, and Shigella for up to 5 days in faeces dried onto toilet seats.
People with a vagina, uterus, and ovaries most commonly get a UTI when they accidentally spread bacteria from their gut to the opening of the urethra. This happens if you accidentally wipe from back to front or during sexual intercourse.
UTIs usually require antibiotics to be treated, meaning you'll need to visit a healthcare provider. Telehealth services can make it easier to schedule an appointment. Getting started on your antibiotic right away and drinking plenty of water are some of the most important steps in helping to get rid of a UTI fast.
Toilets are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria, and if they are not cleaned and maintained properly, they can easily become a source of infection. This is especially true if toilet seats and handles are not wiped down regularly, as these surfaces can be touched by multiple people throughout the day.
Green or brown stains are a sign of lime buildup. It happens because of the evaporation of hard water that leaves behind mineral deposits. These minerals dry out and catch other dirt and bacteria around the buildup, creating layers of green and brown stains.
His studies have found that on the average toilet seat there are 50 bacteria per square inch. "It's one of the cleanest things you'll run across in terms of micro-organisms," he says.
A few diseases that can be spread through the fecal-oral route include hepatitis A, hepatitis E, cholera, adenovirus, and E. coli. These diseases occur due to the viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites that can spread through fecal-oral transmission.
Wipe front to back. Always wipe from the front to the back after using the bathroom. Do not try to reach from behind because germs from the rectum can be transferred to the hand and tissue. After bowel movements, clean the area around the anus gently, wiping from front to back.
Although holding your pee doesn't directly cause a urinary tract infection (UTI), not emptying your bladder can allow bacteria to multiply within the bladder. This is because passing urine helps to flush out the bladder and the rest of your urinary tract.