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Can You Get Herpes From A Toilet Seat? Top Full Guide 2021

Herpes is a highly contagious virus that can be transmitted through skin contact, which means you can get herpes from touching an infected person’s sore or having sex with someone who has the disease. But did you know that it’s also possible to contract herpes from your toilet seat?

In this post, Focal Upright will provide complete information about what is this disease? Can you get herpes from the toilet seat or not? And what can you protect yourself from other viruses?

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Can You Get Herpes From A Toilet Seat

What Is The Herpes Virus?

Although herpes can be contagious, it is implausible that you will get the disease from a seat in the toilet. The herpes virus has a short life span outside the human body. It quickly dies on surfaces like toilet seats—very low odds of contracting herpes from a surface such as a toilet seat or any other surface.

Herpes or Herpes Simplex Virus dies quickly outside of the body. It is transmitted primarily through skin-to-skin contact.

There are two types of herpes virus: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2).

HSV1 is known to cause cold sores (also known as fever blisters and canker sores) in the mouth.

HSV2 is also known as genital herpes. It can often cause outbreaks below the waist. HSV2 is extremely common, and more than 67 percent of people under 50 are infected, according to the World Health Organization.

It is highly contagious and can be spread to other surfaces, such as toilet seats.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) go so far as to say “you will not get herpes from toilet seats.”

How Do You Catch Herpes?

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) spread by skin-to-skin contact. In most cases, the virus enters your body through mucous membranes — the type of skin found in your mouth, genitals, or anus.

Both types of herpes can be transmitted through direct oral and sexual contact with someone who has the virus. This happens primarily through vaginal, anal sex, and oral sex or kissing. If exposed to the virus, it can sometimes get into your body through cuts, abrasions, or scrapes.

You can spread herpes to other parts of your body if you touch herpes sore and then touch your mouth, genitals, or eyes without washing your hands first. You can also pass herpes to someone else this way.

Many people can contract genital herpes, and they may not even know it. Some people may have the virus for years without ever experiencing any symptoms. For example, genital blisters can break open and ooze or cold sores around their mouth. The virus can remain dormant for so long that it can be hard to determine when it was first brought into your body.

Herpes Is More Common Than You Think

Many people are confused about the terms HSV-1 and HSV-2, oral or genital herpes. But the truth is that either strain can be found at any part of the body.

Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, affecting an estimated 267 million women and 150 million men worldwide, or approximately 11% of all people aged 15 to 49.

Oral herpes affects between 50 and 80 percent of adults in the United States.

According to estimates, 45 percent of Americans have genital herpes.

That’s quite a few people who have herpes. The media would like you to believe that herpes was caused by cheating on a spouse, unprotected sexual activity, or sitting in a dirty bathroom seat. We’re here to tell you that this is not likely the case.

Humans get herpes. It is a widespread and contagious virus that lives in the body for life. Although it sounds like a bad word, many people are more traumatized emotionally by this diagnosis than physically. It is one of the most common STDs that can be contracted. It does not cause long-term harm and doesn’t affect other organs (like the brain). Herpes just hangs around until it becomes lonely, and when it wants to come up and say hello. We just incarnated herpes. We are sorry, but not sorry.

For fear of ridicule or being excluded, many people with herpes are reluctant to tell others about their condition.

It seems that herpes is a disease that only “good” people are protected from. But again, if you look at the numbers, you’ll see that this is not true.

Many people don’t know they have herpes. It can lie dormant for many years or even decades.

Be Aware Of The Symptoms

Here are some common symptoms of HSV-2 or HSV-1.

  • You feel a burning sensation in your pee.
  • Difficulty peeing
  • You feel itching around the affected area.
  • Pain in the genitals
  • Pain around or in the mouth
  • Swollen glands
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Tiredness or achy sensation
  • The obvious blisters, sores, or outbreaks

HSV-1 and HSV-2 can both be asymptomatic. This means that they may not show any symptoms.

Is it possible to catch other things from a commode seat?

Although you don’t have to worry about getting herpes from a seat in the toilet, there are other risks. The toilet’s intense flush is one-way germs can be spread in a bathroom.

The toilet releases a fine spray from its handle that can reach nearby surfaces. You can touch these surfaces, and you could pick up germs.

These bacteria and viruses are found in the toilets and surrounding areas.

Streptococcus. This bacteria causes strep and necrotizing fasciitis. It is also responsible for strep throat.

Shigella bacteria. This bacteria can cause problems in the digestive system. Diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms.

Staphylococcus. This bacterium, also known as staph, can live on surfaces such as toilet seats and spread from one person to another. One type, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), can survive on surfaces for as long as three months. It can be spread in as little as three seconds.

Escherichia coli. This bacterium, also known as E.coli, is found in the human intestines. However, it can be transmitted via airborne toilet mist.

Norovirus. Every day, the highly contagious virus can live on surfaces for nearly two weeks.

Influenza. The flu virus can survive for up to three days on surfaces that are not porous, such as a toilet seat rusted Source. You can also keep it alive for the same time using a remote control or your phone’s door handle.

 A Toilet Seat

What Germs Are Most Commonly Found In The Bathroom Toilet?

Research shows that the toilet is not the only place where germs and bacteria thrive in a bathroom.

According to one study, bathroom floors have the highest number of germs. Bathroom floors have more germs than the outside. The remaining 15 percent is derived from fecal matter.

Although the study did not place the toilet seat at the top of the list in this regard, it did identify other hot spots for germ activity in bathrooms, such as:

  • Sinks
  • Faucet handles
  • Towel dispensers

How To Keep Yourself Safe In The Bathroom

These are some tips to keep in mind when using the bathroom, especially in public places.

You can use a bathroom with paper towel covers.

Toilet paper can be contaminated by fecal spray. To avoid this, look for a stall with a metal or plastic cover covering almost all paper towels.

Use Antiseptic Wipes

According to a study, antiseptic wipes can be used on the toilet seat cover to reduce the bacteria fifty times. While paper toilet seat covers are convenient, they may not be very effective. Most germs can slip through the porous fibers of the paper. You can also spray the paper with water from the toilet.

Wash Your Hands

A survey revealed that only 83 percent of respondents wash their hands.

Do not skip hand washing. Use soap to wash your hands. After rubbing the soap onto your hands, scrub your fingers and under your nails for 20-30 seconds. Rinse again.

Flush Your Shoes

This technique may be already familiar to you. Instead of using your hands, flush with your foot. This will ensure that you don’t come in contact with any germy surfaces.

Use A Paper Towel To Touch Surfaces

After thoroughly washing your hands, take a piece of paper and turn off the water supply. This will prevent you from coming in direct contact with germs that may be on the surfaces.

Do Not Touch Dryer Vents

Use your elbow to turn on a hot-air dryer. Avoid touching the machine’s vents with your fingers. These surfaces could harbor germs.

Conclusion

There are so many misconceptions about herpes infection, and while all of them have false information, the bit about getting it from a toilet seat is one of the most common. The truth? You can’t get genital herpes by touching a toilet seat or anything else in a public restroom-the virus doesn’t live on any surface outside your body for very long at all. You’re more likely to pick up HIV from an infected person who has sores on their lip than you are to get genital herpes that way! Now that we’ve debunked this myth, hopefully, people will stop spreading misinformation, and everyone will be safer because of it.

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