If you are Nigerian or live in Nigeria there is a high chance you are familiar with the term “toilet infection”.
Most Nigerian women often get worried about using a public toilet out of fear that they’ll go home with unwanted microbes in their genitalia.
Well these article provides insight whether or not toilet infection exists.
The term ‘toilet infection’ has become very popular in Nigeria with many selling medicines and suggesting natural remedies promised to get rid of this infection contracted from the toilet.
BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS IS TOILET INFECTION A MYTH OR FACT?
A UK based, Nigerian Doctor, Dr. Olufunmilayo counsels that what is tagged “toilet infection” is usually a urine infection or an STD.
He opines that there is nothing like toilet infection, ‘there is no medical diagnosis at all’.
Dr. Olufunmilayo added that the chances of contracting any disease solely from using the toilet is almost zero.Adding that toilet infection is most times used to cover up sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
It’s easier to say toilet infection than saying STD to avoid being judged.
Taking to his X (Twitter) handle to enlighten his followers, he wrote:
“There is NOTHING like “Toilet Infection”. There is NO such medical diagnosis at all. What you call “toilet infection” is usually a urine infection or an STD. The chances of you catching an infection solely from using a toilet are almost zero. “Toilet infection” DOES NOT exist.”
A medical laboratory scientist, MLS Nwaimo also lend his words to this by saying “The term is technically inaccurate or in correct. However. If toilet water splashes on a female or male genitals it could carry feacal bacteria into the reproductive system.”
So, if there’s no such thing as toilet infection what then is the infection that people treat?
MLS Nwaimo’s response to this is that the term toilet infection is just a name used “to mask their real problems.”
He said “If you use toilet well without letting the water splash your pussy there is nothing to worry about. Even if you have a splash clean off properly. However, learn to wipe off from front towards the back.”
Medical research has also shown that there is no such thing as a toilet infection. However, the term is often used to describe the burning sensation, itching and foul smelling discharges associated with vulvovaginitis. It is termed “toilet infection” because they believe, it originates from the use of dirty toilets.
Common symptoms of vaginal infection include vaginal itching and burning, vaginal soreness, inflamed, flushed, or swollen skin around your vagina and vulva, a change in the amount of vaginal discharge, a change in the colour of vaginal discharge, pain or burning during urination, pain during penetrative vaginal sex, and vaginal bleeding or spotting.
WHAT TO DO!
While it is true that there may be some microbes and germs in a public toilet, they usually can’t survive for long on cold hard surfaces of those toilets like we think.
If you have abnormal discharge from your private part like pus from penis in men or any abnormal colour or bad odor vagina discharge in women with itching please speak to a doctor.
