The big 5 on the toilet seat

Image showing a toilet seat filled with germs

Let’s have a quick look at some of the deadly germs that we may catch on a trip to the toilet.

E. coli (Escherichia coli)

It has a tendency to hold on to nonporous surfaces. This may lead to diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, vomiting.

E. coli is the main cause of more than 75% of urinary tract infections and a very bad strain of E.coli is the leading cause of acute kidney failure in children.

Norovirus

This virus causes vomiting and diarrhoea and gets transmitted easily from person to person. It reappears within 2 weeks of cleaning a surface.

Shigella

It causes bloody diarrhoea and transmits quite easily from one person to another.

Streptococcus

This strain is known to affect the respiratory tract causing a sore throat and bronchial pneumonia.

It can harm the skin too.

Staphylococcus

This is known to contaminate a surface for a prolonged duration, even up to 2 months.

The degree of infection varies from minor skin problems to major life-threatening infections such as endocarditis (infection of the inner lining of the heart).

Hence it is very important to use a toilet seat sanitizer spray before using a toilet.

Also one should wash hands properly after using a toilet to protect oneself from these germs.

Issued in public interest by Dolpee

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