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Seeing people who often spit haphazardly on the streets is not a scene that many people want to see once they set foot outside the house. From a medical point of view, spitting is not just a social problem, but can pose a potential danger to the environment.
Many infectious diseases can move from one person to another through contact with saliva and phlegm, such as when coughing or sneezing. That's why Singapore provides fines that don't play for those who dare to spit in public places - up to almost 10 million rupiah!
Various diseases that can be spread due to frequent spitting carelessly
The risk of transmitting organisms transmitted to other people through saliva is small, said Michael Benninger, MD, reported by the Cleveland Clinic. This is because saliva has antibodies and enzymes that reduce the risk of transmission.
However, germs and bacteria that are present in a person's saliva can stay alive for a long time even after being spit out, which can increase the risk of transmission. A number of viruses and bacteria can last up to 6 hours in the air and more than 24 hours if the growth conditions are optimal. Not to mention if you consider the resilience of the bodies of people around who are certainly diverse.
The habit of often spitting carelessly should still be considered as one of the risk factors for the spread of disease, especially in areas that are still susceptible to transmission of infectious diseases. According to health experts, phlegm from infected patients can spread airborne respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and influenza (including bird flu, MERS, SARS, and swine flu). These germs can move from saliva on the road and into the nose, throat, and lungs of the surrounding people.
Tuberculosis can be spread through saliva and phlegm that is thrown away carelessly
Take for example tuberculosis or TB. Until now Indonesia is still the third largest contributor to TB in Asia after China and India. As many as 0.24% of Indonesia's population suffer from this disease. TB is the number one cause of death infection in Indonesia.
Tuberculosis is transmitted through water droplets from coughs or phlegm which the patient spits out. Droplets containing these germs are then inhaled by other people. TB bacteria can survive in free air for 1-2 hours, depending on whether there is exposure to sunlight, humidity and ventilation. In dark and damp conditions, TB germs can last for days, even months.
In fact, many people have actually experienced exposure to TB germs during their lifetime. But only 10% of people infected with TB will suffer from this disease. And although in most people with a strong immune system TB infection can heal itself without leaving a residue, not infrequently this infection can heal by still leaving a trace. At least 10 percent of ex-TB patients can recur in the future because the germs that have "fallen asleep" in the body become active again.
Besides TB and various types of flu, frequent spit on the streets can also increase the risk of a number of other diseases, such as mononeucleosis (mono) which is spread by Epstein-Barr virus, herpes type 1, hepatitis B and C, and cytomegalovirus. These diseases can spread through contact with saliva and phlegm belonging to the sufferer.
Come on, don't be selfish! Stop the habit of spitting in public places!
Many of these germs can also survive in the body of the ex-sufferer in an inactive condition, and can live again someday once triggered by one thing or another. A factor that is often overlooked when you ignore spitting on the streets without paying attention to other people's feelings.
Hmm ... This way, will Indonesia also join Singapore in implementing a fine law for people who often spit haphazardly, huh?
