Women are significantly more likely to catch illnesses like dysentery, typhoid, urinary tract infection, and vulvar and vaginal infections after using public restrooms, which are in abject disrepair. [1]
Yeast, germs, viruses, and irritants can cause vaginal infections that are mostly present in public restrooms. They may cause discomfort and limit a person’s ability to engage in everyday activities. [1, 2, 7]
After using public restrooms, women are most likely to complain of vaginal infections.
Typically, a lady might talk about a problem with her doctor that she thinks she acquired from using a public restroom.
The following are some signs of a “vaginal infection” she might have:
- Burning or discomfort while urinating
- Whether she is passing pee or not, it can occasionally be an uncomfortable experience.
- Itching in the vagina and around the vulva
- An unpleasant or disagreeable odor emanating from the vagina
- Having a painful sexual experience
- Bleeding or spotting in the genital area outside of a menstrual cycle
- Abnormality in the color of the vaginal discharge
- An excessive amount of vaginal discharge. [1, 2, 3, 9]
7 Vaginal Issues a Woman Encounters while Using Public Toilets. Following are the Types of Vaginal Infections that Women Faces:
1. Urinary Tract Infection: Urinary tract infection, sometimes known as a UTI, is a painful condition that can affect women. The problem is that many bacteria and pathogens congregate on the tissue and toilet seat. These bacteria destroy the purity of genital areas by invading the vaginal biome. Due to weakened immunity, a woman becomes infected and experiences symptoms, including burning while urinating, pain around the vagina, and pain in the lower abdomen. [3]
After that, Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) develops. Because, of some nasty microorganisms, a public restroom can never be a haven for the vagina. Gardnerella vaginalis, the most common microorganism of them all, is the cause of BV. This infection can also make a woman more susceptible if she sits on an infected pot. [3]
2. Bacterial Vaginosis: It is easy to confuse a urinary tract infection with bacterial vaginosis. Although a woman may have been misled by the overlap of BV and UTI symptoms, the two conditions are highly distinct. Because of this, a woman will need to monitor her symptoms and let her doctor know so that they can provide an accurate diagnosis. Women who have BV may have a thin, watery vaginal discharge. But in the case of a UTI, this symptom is uncommon. A lady will not have frequent urination if she has BV. [4]
3. Yeast Infections: Candida, mainly Candida albicans, is the cause of vaginal yeast infections in females. When a Candida species infects the mucosal lining of the vagina, an inflammatory reaction occurs, leading to yeast infections. Yeast infection signs and symptoms include vulvar and vaginal discomfort, itching, and burning with thick, sticky, white discharge, as well as swelling and flushing. People can use antifungal medications to treat yeast infections because a fungus causes them. Antifungal drugs can be used orally or topically applied to the vagina. These two choices are both sold over the counter. [5, 7]
4. Non-Infectious Vaginitis: Irritations frequently cause non-infectious vaginitis. A response may occur if certain substances come into contact with the vagina. Swelling, inflammation, and flushing of the vulva and vagina, as well as discomfort, burning, and stinging sensations on the vulva, are signs of an allergy or sensitivity to stimuli. Avoiding known triggers is the primary treatment method for vaginal discomfort brought on by irritants. A doctor may prescribe a patch test to determine what causes an allergic reaction to treat vaginal dryness and itching. They will apply various compounds to the skin during a patch test to see which ones result in an allergic reaction. [6]
5. Trichomoniasis: An unpleasant fishy odor and vaginal discomfort are typical signs of this condition. A woman could also experience edema, irritation, and inflammation in her vagina and vulva in addition to a greenish-yellow, foamy discharge. Trichomoniasis also causes lower abdominal pain, burning after urination, and pain and burning during vaginal sex. [7, 8]
6. Atrophic Vaginitis: Although this is not a true infection, it can increase the risk of UTIs and vaginal infections. A woman may experience symptoms of atrophic vaginitis, such as vaginal itching, burning, dryness, and changes in discharge, similar to other infections. [8]
7. Viral Infections: Bathrooms are breeding grounds for germs and viruses in the waste of diseased people. Following viruses can be present in public restrooms when proper sanitization and disinfection does not perform:
(a) Norovirus: “Food poisoning” or “the stomach flu” are two prevalent names for norovirus. After catching the virus, symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain can appear as soon as 12 hours later. Antibiotics are ineffective against norovirus, but taking proper precautions lets the virus die in two days. As this virus dehydrates the body, dehydration is a common side effect. To replace depleted electrolytes and rehydrate, consume water and sports drinks. [8, 9, 10]
(b) Shigellosis Virus: After being seeded, the shigellosis virus can survive for up to two days in public restrooms. Virus transmission occurs via feces contamination. This virus most frequently grows in daycare or other childcare facilities where staff members change diapers and potty-train young children. The symptoms, which include fever, stomach pain, and bloody diarrhea, are severe. The feces of the infected are still infectious, even in the absence of symptoms. [10]
Best Practices For Preventing Vaginal Infections In Public Toilets:
1. Maintain as much distance as possible between the body and the toilet seat of the commode. Try half-sitting while squatting. If a woman finds that difficult, wipe the toilet seat with sanitizer and cover it with tissues before using it. [2]
2. It is imperative to wash hands before and after using the restroom and flush the toilet. Washing in an intimate area in a public restroom is not good because it greatly increases the risk of infection. Just pat the area with tissue paper to keep everything dry and clean. [2]
3. Always have tissues and hand sanitizer when one leaves the house so that females can wipe their hands before and after peeing and keep from touching anything in a public restroom. It is also advised to use stand-and-pee gadgets to combat the elements and illnesses by peeing like males. [2]
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References
- https://www.healthshots.com/intimate-health/feminine-hygiene/harmful-effects-of-using-intimate-wipes/
- https://www.healthshots.com/intimate-health/feminine-hygiene/public-toilet-hygiene-tips-for-every-woman/
- https://www.healthshots.com/intimate-health/feminine-hygiene/can-sitting-on-the-toilet-seat-with-tissues-give-you-vaginal-infection/
- https://www.healthshots.com/intimate-health/feminine-hygiene/how-to-treat-uti-at-home-5-herbal-teas-that-can-help/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vaginal-infections#yeast-infections
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vaginal-infections#noninfectious-vaginitis
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vaginal-infections#summary
- https://www.healthline.com/health/vaginal-infection#symptoms
- https://askawayhealth.org/preventing-ladies-toilet-infections/
- https://enviro-master.com/commercial-cleaning-information/5-dangerous-viruses-you-can-get-from-a-public-restroom/
