One of the greatest misconceptions in Nigeria of today is about this germ called Staphylococcus. Every quack and herbal medical practitioner out there blames the poor germ for every infection under the sun. Even some of our hospital laboratory diagnoses Staphylococcus every time they see a bug under the microscope.
Staphylococcus lives on human skin and in our nose. It is mostly found in fertile, active places, including the armpits, hair, and scalp. It is estimated that 20% of the human population are long-term carriers of Staphylococcus. In special circumstances it can cause infection. The funny thing about the germ is however that it destroys the tissue in the area where it is causing infection and produces pus. This is painful and so leads to its early discovery and treatment. The germ can cause a range of illnesses, from minor skin infections, such as pimples, boils to life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis. It is still one of the five most common causes of hospital acquired infections. Treatment is also often effective as the germ is susceptible to Penicillin.
Staphylococcus is rarely responsible for urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted diseases. It is not the cause of aborted pregnancies, miscarriage, headaches, general body aches, etc as often alluded to by quack doctors.
Buyers beware
There are dangerous natural products sold on our streets that falsely claim to treat and prevent sexually transmitted infections. These products are advertised to treat and prevent so called ‘toilet diseases’ and ‘Staphylococcus’. These products are dangerous and they have not been proven to work. They give people false hope that may keep them from seeking treatments that have been proven to be effective.
In conclusion
Finally, avoid herbal drugs and cheap treatments for infections. Some can actually harm you. A word is enough for the wise!