All the lies about staphylococcus and toilet diseases

Dirty hands
A friend of mine took his girlfriend out for dinner. They had sweet, hot, succulent suya at one of those Yahusa places in town. I only heard about it later. That was after his girlfriend was rushed to the emergency room complaining of heat in her private part. It turned out that he did not wash his hands after the suya before touching her private part.
It’s a familiar story that reminded me about sexually transmitted diseases and the myth surrounding some of them. It always begged the question, ‘How did the first person get the infection?’ I mean, yes, infections can be transmitted once your partner has it, but, how did your partner get it in the first place? In fact, some young women who are not yet sexually active also blame the toilet for developing infections.
Some of the explanation and the myth had been that women get the diseases from the toilet seat. I know women who, because of this, do not sit on basins of public toilets! The truth, of course, is that you do not get bacterial vaginosis from toilet seats, bedding, the Jacuzzi or from swimming pools. You get it from poor hygiene in most cases.
The truth, more or less, is that dirty hands actually transmitted the infection on to a woman’s private part in the first place. Dirt from food, fruits, car steering wheels, doors, dirty shoes and socks and a whole host of other materials are likely the source of bacterial and fungal vaginal infections.
Poor hygiene
I asked my nurse to insert a urinary catheter in a female patient. I was there to assist her and was shocked by how she went about cleaning the woman’s private part. Well, she cleaned right from the anus up into her vagina! That’s when I stopped her and had to do the cleaning and the catheterisation myself.
It begged the question, how does my nurse clean herself? And, how many episodes of vaginal infections and urinary tract infections must people who do not clean properly go through: calling it ‘toilet disease.’
Not toilet disease
The chances of getting an infection from the toilet seats are very small because most of the infective agents that cause sexually transmitted diseases live for only a very short time outside the body (on the toilet seat, for example). Chance to get infected might be present if you used the toilet right after someone with an infection had just used it.
It may happen if they had deliberately put the disease all over the seat (just for you!). And then, of course, you come along and rubbed yourself all over the toilet seat, just begging to be infected!
Take a real disease: Syphilis is passed from person to person through direct contact with syphilis sore. Sores occur mainly on the lips, mouth, the external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum. Transmission of the organism occurs during vaginal, anal or oral sex. Syphilis cannot be spread through contact with toilet seats, door knobs, swimming pools, hot tubs, bath tubs, shared clothing, or eating utensils. Thus, women who have never had sexual intercourse are rarely affected.
Staphylococcus
One of the greatest misconceptions in Nigeria of today is about this germ called Staphylococcus. Every quack and herbal medical practitioner out there blames the poor germ for every infection under the sun. Even some of our hospital laboratories diagnose Staphylococcus every time they see a bug under the microscope.
Staphylococcus lives on human skin and in our nose. It is mostly found in fertile, active places, including the armpits, hair and scalp. It is estimated that 20 per cent of the human population are long-term carriers of Staphylococcus. In special circumstances, it can cause infection.
The thing about the germ, however, is that it destroys the tissue in the area where it is causing infection and produces pus. This is painful and so leads to its early discovery and treatment. The germ can cause a range of illnesses, from minor skin infections such as pimples and boils to life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis. It is still one of the five most common causes of hospital-acquired infections. Treatment is also often effective, as the germ is susceptible to Penicillin.
Staphylococcus is rarely responsible for urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted diseases. It is not the cause of aborted pregnancies, miscarriages, headaches, general body aches, etc., as often alluded to by quack doctors.
Buyers beware
There are dangerous natural products sold on our streets that falsely claim to treat and prevent sexually transmitted infections. These products are advertised to treat and prevent so-called ‘toilet diseases’ and ‘Staphylococcus.’ These products are dangerous and they have not been proved to work. They give people false hope that may keep them from seeking treatments that have been proved to be effective.
In conclusion
Women should also learn how to clean properly and avoid douching. Always ask your partner to wash their hands before touching you. And you do the same! Finally, avoid herbal drugs and cheap treatments for infections. Some can actually harm you.
A word is enough for the wise!