Water Borne Diseases

WATER BORNE DISEASES

Waterborne diseases are illnesses caused by microscopic organisms, like viruses and bacteria, which are ingested through contaminated water or by coming in contact with feces. Water-borne diseases are the ones caused by pathogenic microbes spread via contaminated water.

Transmission of these pathogens occurs while using infected water for drinking, food preparation, and washing clothes, among others. Many developing countries do not have proper water treatment plants, especially in the rural areas. In some places, the availability of water is so scarce that people have neither the time nor the money to afford the water purifiers or other water treatment mechanisms. Majority of water-borne diseases worldwide mainly affect children due to poor hygiene and weak immunity. Most of these diseases are life-threatening. The knowledge of the different types of water-borne diseases has come to the forefront with the advent of globalization over the past few decades. Several pathogenic microorganisms which were previously unknown have become the focus of major research in this field.

❖ Typhoid Fever

Although rare in industrialized countries, typhoid fever is well-known in extremely poor parts of developing nations; it's estimated that up to 20 million people worldwide suffer from the illness each year. It's spread through contaminated food, unsafe water, and poor sanitation, and it is highly contagious.

Symptoms include:

• A fever that increases gradually

• Muscle aches

• Fatigue

• Sweating

• Diarrhea or constipation 

Prevention and Treatment:

To prevent dysentery, wash your hands with soap frequently, order all drinks without ice, don’t eat food sold by street vendors, and only eat fruits you can peel. Drink only  bottled and sealed, and do not eat food from villages or street vendors. Typhoid is treated with antibiotics.

❖ Cholera

Cholera is commonly found in humanitarian emergencies or marginalized villages where poverty and poor sanitation are rampant. The disease is spread through contaminated water and causes severe dehydration and diarrhea. Cholera can be fatal within days or even hours of exposure to the bacteria, but only 1 in 10 people will develop life-threatening symptoms.

Symptoms include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Muscle cramps

Prevention and Treatment:

Cholera is a waterborne illness that's easily prevented when traveling. Wash your hands often, only eat foods that are completely cooked and hot (no sushi), and only eat vegetables you can peel yourself, like avocados, bananas, and oranges. Of course, drink safe water.

❖ Dysentery

An intestinal infection, dysentery is a waterborne disease characterized by severe diarrhea as well as blood or mucus in the stool. Dysentery is good reason to always wash your hands, as the disease is spread mainly through poor hygiene. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites in unsafe food and water and by people coming in contact with fecal matter. If someone experiencing dysentery cannot replace fluids quickly enough, their life could be at risk.

Symptoms include:

• Stomach cramps and pain

• Diarrhea

• Fever

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Dehydration 

Prevention and Treatment

To prevent dysentery, wash your hands with soap frequently,order all  drinks without ice, don’t food sold by street vendors, and only eat fruits you can peel. Drink only sealed bottled water while traveling in places with higher dysentery risk, such as communities where proper hygiene practices are uncommon. Mild dysentery usually clears up with rest and fluids, but over-the-counter medications such as Pepto-Bismol can help with stomach cramping. More severe cases can be treated with antibiotics, although some strains of the disease are resistant.

❖ Escherichia Coli

E. coli is a bacteria with various strains, some dangerous and some beneficial. For example, E. coli bacteria is important in creating a healthy intestinal tract.

However, if animal waste has found its way into farmland where produce is grown or if strains of E. coli are spread through the process of making ground beef, those who consume these foods could experience symptoms of the waterborne illness. The bacteria are also found in unsafe water sources around the globe where human water sources and cattle coexist.

Symptoms of dangerous strains of E. coli are similar to that of dysentery and other waterborne diseases. Most bouts of E. coli pass within a week, but older people and young children have a greater chance of developing life-threatening symptoms. Anyone believed to have been exposed to contaminated food or water should contact a doctor if diarrhea contains blood.

Prevention and Treatment

As always, avoid water possibly contaminated by human and/or animal feces (like ponds, rivers, and swamps). If you are going to eat ground beef, cook thoroughly. Wash fruits and vegetables well, wash hands often, and drink only safe water.

To treat the disease, drink plenty of safe water, rest, and take over-the-counter diarrheal medication. While these are simple prevention and treatment tips, there are many remote communities in Uganda who have no choice but to drink from swam.

STANDARDS FOR PORTABLE WATER

The water quality standards are suggeted by the following agencies

(i) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

(ii) World Health Organisation (WHO)

(iii) United States Public Health Society (U.S.P.H.S.)

(iv) American Water Works Association (A.W.W.A)

The Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) the "The Ministry of Urban Development" (MUD) India has prepared the Manual on water supply and treatment in which water quality standards have been laid down.