Health experts have said developing the habit of disinfecting toilet seats especially in public toilets before use will go a long way in reducing the spread of infectious diseases.
The experts noted that disinfecting the toilet seats and other surface areas had been identified as one of the effective measures Nigerians could take to reduce their contact with germs when using public restrooms.
They identified infections and diseases that could be contracted in the public toilet including gastroenteritis, staphylococcus aureus infections, diarrhea, hepatitis, typhoid, and worm infestation.
The experts spoke at the unveiling of Sitfine Toilet Sanitiser Spray in Lagos recently by Shodan Pharmaceuticals Limited, to promote personal hygiene.
The Vice President of the firm, Daniel Okeoma, said it was an innovation that would also protect women against urinary tract infection after toilet use as well as sexually transmitted diseases, citing their body anatomy.
Okeoma, while highlighting the risk associated with using dirty public and private toilets warned against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections such as staphylococcus aureus and bacterial vaginosis.
He affirmed that these infections could be acquired through the use of unhygienic toilets and might lead to severe health complications if left untreated or poorly treated.
Okeoma said, “Sitfine is a game-changer for hygiene-conscious individuals. You no longer need to worry about the cleanliness of public toilets. With just a spray, it neutralises germs and odours instantly.
“It is clinically approved toilet seat sanitiser spray in the form of a quick-drying aerosol that protects against germs on the toilet seat.
“The idea for Sitfine originated from a personal experience shared by the founder of Excid Pharmaceuticals, the product’s manufacturing company. A friend attended a party but couldn’t use the restroom because it was in poor condition. That conversation, combined with my experience as a pharmacist treating women for infections contracted from unsanitary restrooms, led to the creation of the product.”
He noted that infections like staphylococcus and candidiasis, among others, if left untreated were capable of causing damage to vital organs of the body such as the kidneys when they get into the bloodstream.
“While there are drugs to treat these diseases, these drugs can cause some damage to the body, as they are made from chemicals, hence the reason we are preaching about prevention,” the pharmacist added.
Studies have shown that there are some health risks associated with public restrooms with the size of the risk depending on many things, including how often the toilet is cleaned and how well-ventilated it is.
Researchers have also traced the spread of certain disease-causing viruses and bacteria back to public restrooms.
In a 2020 study published by the Nigerian Journal of Biotechnology, the researchers said Toilets have long been viewed as a significant potential contributor to human infectious diseases, with the transmission of many diarrhoeal diseases thought to be associated with toilets.
They disclosed that a higher level of contamination was generally observed on the door handles and floor surfaces, with the contamination also observed on the toilet seats.
SOURCE: PUNCH NEWS
