This is really odd, but it’s bugging me just enough that I want to get some other opinions on it.
The background is that on this particular floor of our office building, there are about 7 males working here on a regular basis who all share the same bathroom. It is very common, unfortunately, for me to go and use the urinal only to find that the last person in didn’t bother flushing. That’s a pet peeve for another thread, through.
About two or three months ago, I’d occasionally notice a couple of very small black streaks mixed in with the unflushed urine. I initially thought it was my imagination, but after they’d caught my eye, I noticed that these streaks were actually moving – alive in some fashion. I guess it’s some kind of worm – I have no idea, and I certainly don’t know what would cause it. However, I didn’t stress too much about it because I figured there was no way for me to know who this was coming from, so there was nothing to be done.
However, recently, a coworker of mine went out of the country for three weeks on vacation, and when he got back (yesterday), the occurrence of these worms reappeared right away. It seems fairly certain that this individual is the one with the problem, but I can’t fathom a way to broach the subject with him (even setting aside the fact that he’s my superior). I’m inclined to think that he’s already aware of the problem anyway, but if he can’t be bothered to flush a urinal, who knows how much attention he’s paying to his own waste?
So I guess my question is two-fold:
a) Does anyone know what the particular ailment or issue might be?
b) Should I say anything to him about it, and if so, how would I go about it?
Is it possible that the timing is only a coincidence, and that these worms are actually coming up through the sewers? I’ve never heard of urinary tracts worms before, though I concede that anything is possible.
Whether to tell him or not … that is really difficult. I should think that sooner or later he’d figure out something was wrong himself, but it would probably be better health wise from him to know sooner.
Some Schistosoma species can infect the human urinary tract, but there’s usually all sorts of other unpleasant symptoms that go along with that sort of infection, so I don’t know how likely it is. I agree with appleciders that it’s more likely a coincidence, and the “worms” are probably form the pipes.
Yep, I was going to say Schistosomiasis. It can cause bladder infections, bladder cancer and kidney failure. If you are absolutely certain of who’s leaving em behind, for their sake I think you should mention it. I have always felt that if I have discovered something without making the effort to do so, then it has become my business.
How can someone not know that there is something alive coming out when he pees? I understand being a little careless but for the love of God, man!
Also, what countries has he been going to and who has he been with?
If I am reading the link correctly, he is peeing out little eggs that don’t hatch until they hit the water, so ok, maybe he really has never seen them. But also, I hope that these things never escape the urinal to find that special freshwater snail or they could reproduce. Could this possibly be contagious to others in your office?
I would really tell him , anonymously if you have to, but I would tell him. Otherwise, print out info about that disease and start leaving a pile of copies in the bathroom with a note that says they have been noticed and people should get checked?
This is seriously weird, but that guy really needs to know!
Probably a quick call to the health department is in order. They’ll send someone out to take a sample and see what you’re actually dealing with. If it’s worms in the pipes, that’s one thing, and they’ll probably be able to tell you how to get rid of them. If it’s worms in a person, they’ll probably want you (or someone in charge) to circulate a general memo that a potentially, though not frighteningly, communicable condition has been discovered and that employees should see their doctor blah blah blah. They’ll be able to give you some sort of informational page about the name and symptoms and treatment that you can attach to the memo.
That’s how schools handle it with lice, anyway, before they do a round up and single kids out.
So, the question boils down to, “Are someone else’s possible parasites your business?” I dunno; since his lack of flushing (damn, I hate that!) has made it known when you really would rather not, maybe you do need to say something, keeping in mind that he might be receiving treatment for them already. You don’t actually know which guy it is; you just strongly suspect one. Maybe you should send an email out to every guy who uses that washroom, with information on possible urinary parasites.
(From the stupid ads - “Learn how to cleanse and remove thick, dark & rubbery waste.” :eek: - that is the freakiest thing I’ve read all day.)
I read some of romansperson and it appears that you pass the eggs, which hatch into larvae when they come in contact with water. Dunno if urine qualifies as “water” or not, but maybe he can’t see the eggs, then they hatch after he walks away from the urinal?
Maybe it is the boss putting gatorade and Sea-Monkeys to see if there is someone human enough to do something about a potential life-threatening situation.
Ethically, I think the guy needs to be notified somehow. I agree that a general memo to everyone about this issue might be less embarrassing than singling him out individually.
