Every year, World Toilet Day is observed to raise awareness about the global sanitation crisis and encourage action to solve it. The goal set by the United Nation is to achieve safe toilets for all by 2023, as a part of their Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN also states that 3.5 billion people live without proper sanitation and many children also lose their lives due to poor sanitation and unsafe water. This is why World Toilet Day is observed to raise awareness on this issue.

Theme

This year, the theme for World Toilet Day 2024 is "Toilets - A Place for Peace'. This focuses on the growing threat to sanitation that is caused by conflict, climate change, disaster and neglect. When there is a threat to using toilets, it can lead to many health risks.

Not using toilets for too long may lead to Urinary Tract Infection or UTI. For many who do not have access to clean toilets do not drink enough liquid or hold pee for too long. Doctors suggest that holding in pee for too long can cause bacteria to multiply and lead to UTI. By not drinking enough water, your bladder fails to tell the body to pee often, and can cause the bacteria to spread through the urinary tract, which can lead to infection.

Symptoms of UTI:

• Burning or stinging feeling while urinating
• Pain in pelvis or lower abdomen
• Constant urge to empty the bladder
• Strong or foul smelling urine
• Consistently dark urine
• Blood in urine

Holding in pee for too long can also cause your bladder to stretch, making it difficult or even impossible for the bladder to contract and release pee normally. It can also damage your pelvic floor muscles or could lead to kidney stones.

World Toilet Day History And Significance

To prevent such conditions, it is important that everyone has access to clean and safe toilets. In terms of history, the day was established in 2001, by the World Toilet Organization (WTO), which was founded by Jack Sim. However, it was officially recognised by the UN in 2013. The Government of Singapore worked with WTO to create the first UN resolution called Sanitation for All.

India too promotes safe and hygiene toilet through its Swachh Bharat Yojna.

The World Health Organization (WHO) today released updated guidelines aimed at reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, a condition that affects more than 57 million people worldwide.

Nearly 10 million people are diagnosed with dementia every year. While there is currently no cure, the WHO says up to 45 per cent of dementia risk can be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity, social isolation, air pollution, and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including high blood pressure and diabetes.

Beyond its impact on memory, thinking and daily functioning, dementia also affects a person's independence, dignity and safety.

"We know more today than ever before about what drives dementia risk, and these guidelines translate that knowledge into action," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

"Countries now have clear, evidence-based recommendations they can put into practice immediately to protect people's cognitive health," he added.

What Do the Updated WHO Guidelines Say?

Also read: Healthy Lifestyle Changes Improve Memory, Thinking In Older Adults At Dementia Risk: The Lancet

The WHO last issued recommendations on dementia risk reduction in 2019. The global healthy body said that the updated guidelines incorporate the latest scientific evidence and innovations in dementia prevention. The revised recommendations also provide proven interventions that can lower dementia risk through early awareness and timely action.

Further, they present an opportunity to reduce the global burden of dementia by strengthening the integration of brain health with noncommunicable disease and mental health services.

Importantly, the updated guidelines recommend several healthy behaviors and lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, including:

• Cognitive training and cognitive stimulation

• Participation in social activities for adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment

• Regular physical activity

• Quitting tobacco

• Reducing alcohol consumption

• Following a healthy diet

• Reducing exposure to air pollution

The WHO also recommends effective management of cardiometabolic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol as part of dementia risk-reduction strategies. Hearing aids may also be offered where appropriate, it said.

WHO Warns Against Routine Supplements

The WHO does not recommend the routine use of vitamin B and E supplements, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), or multivitamins and minerals to prevent cognitive decline or dementia in people without a diagnosed deficiency.

According to the organization, current evidence does not demonstrate sufficient benefit to outweigh potential harmful effects.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term describing a significant decline in mental function that interferes with everyday life. It commonly affects memory, thinking and reasoning abilities and is caused by underlying conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia.

Read More: Normal Ageing or Alzheimer's? Doctors Explain Six Key Differences to Watch For

Common Signs of Dementia

• Memory problems

• Confusion

• Difficulty finding words

• Changes in mood or behavior

• Trouble completing familiar tasks

The Growing Global Burden

Dementia significantly affects an individual's ability to live independently, work and perform daily activities while placing a substantial burden on families and caregivers.

According to the WHO, dementia costs the global economy an estimated US$1.3 trillion every year, with about half of that amount attributed to unpaid care provided by family members and friends.

The WHO said understanding dementia risk factors and taking preventive action can improve health and quality of life, helping people live longer, healthier and more independent lives.

A simple blood test that measures androgen hormone levels could help diagnose endometriosis with more than 95 per cent accuracy, according to new research.

The University of Edinburgh-led findings offer hope for a faster, less invasive way to detect the condition, which affects an estimated 10 per cent of women of reproductive age worldwide—around 190 million people—and often takes years to diagnose.

The researchers found that women with endometriosis have a distinct androgen hormone profile in their blood, suggesting the condition could one day be identified through a simple blood test rather than invasive procedures.

Study Identifies a Unique Hormone Signature

Also read: NHS To Roll Out Two 'Gamechanger' Tests for Faster Endometriosis Diagnosis: Know How They Work

The research team analyzed blood samples from 159 women with confirmed endometriosis and 57 women without the condition. Their investigation focused on androgen hormones, including a lesser-studied group known as 11-oxygenated androgens, which are produced by the adrenal glands.

The researchers discovered that women with endometriosis consistently had higher levels of 11-ketotestosterone, one of the 11-oxygenated androgens.

Using this distinct hormone profile, the team was able to differentiate women with and without endometriosis, correctly identifying more than 95 per cent of those with the condition.

If validated in larger clinical studies, the test could reduce reliance on invasive diagnostic procedures such as laparoscopy and help women receive treatment much earlier.

The findings also provide new insights into the role of androgens in the development of endometriosis and may help guide future treatment strategies.

Why Androgens Matter

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the womb. These cells respond to hormones, leading to inflammation, chronic pelvic pain and the formation of scar tissue.

While the disease is known to be influenced by the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, the role of androgens—often referred to as male hormones, though they are naturally present in women as well—has received comparatively little attention.

The researchers believe the newly identified androgen signature could improve understanding of how the disease develops and progresses.

Read More: 13.5 Million Children Remain Zero-Dose In 2025 Despite Global Vaccination Gains: UN Report

Why Earlier Diagnosis Is Important

Diagnosing endometriosis remains a major challenge. Current methods include ultrasound, MRI scans and laparoscopy—a surgical procedure in which a camera is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen to confirm the presence of endometrial-like tissue.

Because symptoms often overlap with those of other conditions, many women wait years before receiving a diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis could help reduce prolonged pain, limit disease progression and allow patients to begin treatment sooner, said the researchers, while stressing the need for larger studies.

What Is Endometriosis?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It most commonly affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis.

The condition can begin with a person's first menstrual period and continue until menopause. Common symptoms include severe pelvic pain, painful periods, pain during intercourse, bowel or urinary symptoms during menstruation, and difficulty conceiving.

The recent rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths in Andhra Pradesh has renewed concerns over the virus, prompting neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu and Odisha to step up surveillance. Andhra Pradesh has reported three COVID-related deaths along with several active cases.

However, health experts say the current situation does not indicate a major public health threat and have urged people to focus on prevention rather than panic.

Tamil Nadu's Health Department has also clarified that there is no evidence of a highly virulent COVID-19 variant circulating in the state. Officials noted that current COVID-19 infections remain lower than in previous years.

Virus Continues To Evolve

Also read: Omicron Sub-Lineages Likely Behind COVID Surge In India: Why Deaths Are Occurring

"The SARS-CoV-2 virus never truly disappears; it continues to resurface through new mutations. Viral strains naturally mutate as part of their evolution, making viral illnesses highly dynamic," Dr Abha Mashur, Pulmonologist at Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, told HealthandMe.

She said the key concern is not the emergence of new variants, but the severity of disease they cause.

"At present, we are predominantly seeing upper respiratory involvement and milder cases of viral illness," said Dr Mashur, adding that Lilavati Hospital has admitted only one or two COVID-19 patients recently, all of whom required monitoring but experienced only mild illness.

Who Is At Higher Risk?

While most infections are mild, experts caution that certain groups remain vulnerable to severe disease. These include:

• Elderly individuals
• Pregnant women
• People with chronic heart disease
• Patients with COPD or interstitial lung disease (ILD)
• Those with chronic kidney or liver disease
• Immunocompromised individuals.

Read More: 13.5 Million Children Remain Zero-Dose In 2025 Despite Global Vaccination Gains: UN Report

Omicron Subvariants Circulating In India

According to Dr Mashur, the current wave is being driven by Omicron subvariants — the JN.1 variant and the BA.3.2 variant — that remain highly transmissible but are not causing severe illness in most people.

JN.1: The expert explained that the JN.1 variant is highly transmissible and possesses enhanced immune-evasion capabilities, allowing it to partially bypass immunity from previous infection or vaccination. However, she said it continues to cause predominantly mild illness compared to earlier variants.

BA.3.2: The BA.3.2 variant has accumulated a large number of mutations, raising concerns about immune escape. Despite this, available evidence suggests it has not led to more severe disease and is not currently considered a cause for alarm.

No Need for Panic

The experts stressed that the current rise in cases should encourage vigilance rather than fear. Vaccination, masking in high-risk settings, and early medical consultation remain the most effective tools to reduce transmission and protect vulnerable populations.

"The current situation should not create panic, but should prompt people to seek medical attention early. Those who develop symptoms of a viral infection should avoid public spaces and consult a doctor promptly so that transmission can be curtailed at the earliest," Dr Mashur said.

Dr Neha Rastogi, Senior Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, urged people to continue following basic preventive measures.

"To reduce the risk of infection, people should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, wear masks in crowded indoor settings, maintain hand hygiene, ensure good ventilation, and avoid close contact when unwell. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, or breathlessness should get tested and seek timely medical advice."