2023-05-04 20:32:10
Myths and doubts about how hepatitis A is transmitted are very common, one of them is whether hepatitis A is transmitted by using a dirty bathroom and then we tell you if it is true or not.
It is said that the “Kiss of Poseidon” occurs when when you have a bowel movement, the weight of the stool causes the toilet water to splash and come into contact with your anus. Is that dangerous? Keep reading.
Foto: Getty Images
What is the mode of transmission of hepatitis A?
According to the United States National Library of Medicine, the hepatitis A virus is present mainly in the feces and blood of an infected person and there are several ways in which you can get it:
- If you eat or drink food or water that has been contaminated by feces that contain the hepatitis A virus
- If you come into contact with feces or blood of an infected person
- When an infected person passes the virus to an object or food due to poor hand washing or sanitizing after using the bathroom
- When you engage in sexual activities that involve anal or oral contact
As you can see, this virus tends to spread faster if the environment or habits lack hygiene and protection.
Foto: Getty Images
How long does the hepatitis virus last on surfaces?
The hepatitis A virus can live for about a week outside the human body and is capable of adhering to surfaces or liquids during this time, which is why good hygiene in risky spaces, such as public toilets, is emphasized.
Can I get hepatitis A from a dirty bathroom?
Since the hepatitis A virus can remain in both liquids and on surfaces, it is also capable of remaining in a dirty or poorly disinfected bathroom.
In fact, an article published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology warns of the dangers of using a bathroom that is dirty or not properly disinfected.
Foto: Getty Images
In the text, the experts warn that there are microorganisms that can be spread by the discharges in the bathroom or the splashes of the drops that remain on the toilet seat, even if these drops are imperceptible.
And as already mentioned, the hepatitis A virus can remain on surfaces, so it is not ruled out that it may be present on a toilet seat splashed with microdroplets of contaminated water that can come into contact with the anus and thus infecting the person.
They even mention that salmonella is another of the pathogens that can become airborne after a toilet flush, so by using a contaminated bathroom, you can not only contract hepatitis A but also salmonella-associated diseases.
The study cautions that while lowering the toilet seat before “flushing the toilet” decreases the presence of these airborne pathogens, it does not completely eliminate the risk of contracting them.
As you can see, there is a probability that hepatitis A is transmitted by using a dirty bathroom.
Foto: Getty Images
How to properly clean the bathroom so that there is no hepatitis A?
The experts who developed the study added some suggestions for cleaning and disinfecting the bathroom correctly.
For this, it is essential to use disinfectant solutions and not just cleaners because there are pathogens that can remain suspended or embedded on surfaces.
The incorrect use of detergent and soap can further spread bacteria in a bathroom, so it is best to use disinfectant tablets or solutions that can stay in the toilet and bathroom for longer.
For example, chlorine tablets from the toilet tank could help reduce the risks of the organisms that cause hepatitis A and salmonella surviving.
Another tip that you can do is have different brushes to scrub each area of the bathroom and avoid cross contamination. Same with rags.
Now that you know that hepatitis A is transmitted by using a dirty bathroom (although not always), we remind you that the key is to prevent infections by making good use of soaps and complementing them with effective long-lasting disinfectants that eliminate the trace of these viruses in your bathroom.
If you want to know more about the types of hepatitis and how they can be spread, we share the following video.
#hepatitis #transmitted #dirty #bathroom