Waterborne diseases are caused by the pathogenic microorganisms that are most commonly transmitted in contaminated fresh water. The infections usually results during bathing, drinking, washing, in the preparation of food, or the consumption of food that is infected.
Various forms of waterborne diarrheal disease probably are the most prominent examples and affect mainly children in developing countries. According to the World Health Organisation, such diseases account for an estimated 3.6% of the total global burden of disease and cause about 1.5 million human deaths annually. The World Health Organisation estimates that 58% of that burden, or 842,000 deaths per year, is attributed to unsafe water supply, sanitation and hygiene. Water is essential for life, but unfortunately few people in developing countries have access to clean water. Some of the most common water-related diseases are as follows:
- Diarrhoea: Most of the water borne diseases manifest themselves through chronic diarrhoea. In fact, water borne diseases in Africa and in Southeast Asia have brought about severe cases of diarrhoea which led to 7.7 percent and 8.5 percent of deaths in those continents respectively.
- Cholera: Cholera is a waterborne illness that affects the intestine. Its symptoms usually include watery diarrhoea and vomiting which can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. According to The Global Health Observatory of the World Health Organisation (WHO), 47 countries in 2013, reported 129,064 cases of cholera to WHO. A total of 47% of this number came from the Americas while 43% came from Africa.
- Dysentery: It is probably one of the most common waterborne diseases around, having killed around 600,000 children coming mostly from developing countries. The bacterial disease is caused by the microorganism called Shigella, and just like the cholera bacterium, it attacks cells in the large intestine, resulting to abdominal cramps, anal pain and bloody stool.
- Typhoid Fever: This is another common example of waterborne diseases. The bacteria in water that brings this type of disease is the Salmonella typhi. This gives symptoms quite different from cholera and dysentery. The affected person may also suffer from diarrhoea, but a more distinct symptom is the development of a skin rash with rose coloured spots on the chest and abdomen. This bacterium could also enter the bloodstream, making the infected person a carrier of the disease even if the person has been cured of the symptoms.
- Salmonella and E. Coli Infection: These two bacterial diseases have a lot in common. Both come from unsanitary conditions, filthy water containing infected feces, a meat that has not been cooked well. Both of these water bacteria present similar symptoms in infected individuals- high fever, abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea. In the worst cases of E. Coli poisoning, one could experience kidney failure. PR firms
The water related diseases could be avoided at the onset with the use of water filtration techniques to sift out all the nasty contaminants up to the smallest micron. Other ways include boiling, water stills and the use of water treatment tablets.
For more information, you can call on Anglian Water Contact Number and get in touch with its dedicated team.
