Introduction:
Hundreds of millions of people suffer from waterborne illnesses yearly, primarily in developing nations lacking safe drinking water. Diarrhea is the most common symptom of the seven most prevalent diseases spread by water worldwide. According to the most recent research, diarrhea kills more children than malaria (mosquito-borne protozoal disease), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and measles combined. This condition causes the maximum number of deaths for children under five. That amounts to hundreds of thousands of deaths, but there is a reason for optimism. Experts believe that the global sanitation and water crisis can be resolved, and these diseases can be prevented.
What Are Waterborne Diseases?
Waterborne diseases are illnesses brought on by microscopic organisms like viruses and bacteria that enter the body through contact with feces or contaminated water.
These diseases would not exist if everyone had access to clean water and safe sanitation practices. In the past two decades, communities, NGOs, and governments have made significant progress in the fight against waterborne diseases. Nonetheless, there is a lot to be done.
Typhoid Fever -Typhoid fever is prevalent in extremely disadvantaged regions of developing nations, despite its rarity in industrialized nations. More than 20 million people worldwide suffer from the condition annually. It is highly contagious and spreads through contaminated food, unsafe water, and poor sanitation. The signs include a gradual rise in temperature, muscle pain, fatigue, sweating, diarrhea, or constipation.
- Treatment and Prevention - Travelers going to areas with poor sanitation and unclean water should get vaccinated. The vaccine can be taken orally for several days or injected. Avoid eating food from villages or street vendors and drinking water not bottled and sealed to prevent it. Antibiotics are used to treat typhoid.
Cholera - Cholera is normally found in compassionate crises or underestimated towns where destitution and unfortunate disinfection are widespread. The disease causes severe dehydration and diarrhea and is spread through contaminated water. Only one in ten people will experience life-threatening symptoms, but Cholera can become fatal within a few hours of exposure. The signs include diarrhea, cramps in the muscles, nausea, and vomiting.
-
Prevention and Treatment - Cholera is a waterborne illness that can be easily avoided while traveling. Wash hands frequently, consume only fully cooked and hot foods (no sushi), and consume only vegetables and fruits such as oranges, avocados, and bananas. Hydration is important.
Giardia - Giardia is a waterborne illness that spreads through contaminated water, usually found in ponds and stored water. Still, it can also be found in swimming pools, a town's water supply, and other places. The parasite that causes the infection goes away after a few weeks. However, it is possible that those who were exposed will struggle with intestinal issues for a long time. The signs include diarrhea, bloating, cramps, and abdominal pain.
-
Prevention and Treatment - Giardia has many symptoms, like diarrhea and vomiting, but there are easy ways to avoid the infection. Avoid intake of water during swimming, wash hands frequently, and only drink bottled water. Typically, the immune system will beat Giardia on its own over time. However, if symptoms worsen, antibiotics and anti-parasite medications may be prescribed by doctors.
Dysentery - Dysentery is a waterborne intestinal infection characterized by severe diarrhea and blood or mucus in the stool. Since dysentery is mostly spread through poor hygiene, it is always important to wash hands. It can be brought on by people coming into contact with feces or by bacteria, viruses, or parasites that are present in unsafe food and water. Dysentery patients' lives may be jeopardized if they cannot drink enough fluids. The signs include diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration are all signs of dysentery.
-
Prevention and Treatment - To prevent it, wash hands frequently with soap, order all drinks without ice, avoid street food, and only eat peelable fruits. While traveling in areas with a higher risk of dysentery, such as communities where proper hygiene practices are uncommon, consume sealed, bottled water only.
E. coli - There are numerous strains of E. coli, some of which are harmful, and others are beneficial. E. coli, for instance, is necessary for developing a healthy intestinal tract. However, individuals who consume these foods may experience symptoms of waterborne illness if E. coli strains are spread during the process of making ground beef or if the animal waste has entered the farmland where the produce is grown. The microbes are also found in hazardous water sources everywhere where human water sources and steers coincide.
-
Signs and Symptoms - The signs and symptoms of dangerous E. coli strains are comparable to those of dysentery and other diseases spread by water. Most cases of E. coli go away in a week, but older people and children are more likely to experience symptoms that could be fatal. A person with diarrhea that contains blood should immediately contact a doctor in case of contaminated food or water exposure.
-
Counteraction and Treatment - Avoid water conceivably tainted by humans and creature dung (like lakes, streams, and bogs). Cook thoroughly when consuming ground beef. Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly, wash one's hands frequently, and consume only safe water. Drink plenty of clean water, take an over-the-counter medication for diarrhea, and rest to treat the disease.
Hepatitis A - Hepatitis A is a liver infection contracted by ingesting contaminated food and water or by coming into close contact with an infected individual. The disease is most likely to affect people who frequently travel to developing nations or work in rural communities where sanitation and hygiene management are poor. The signs include fatigue with clay-colored bowel movements, Jaundice with nausea and vomiting, Abdominal pain, especially near the liver, loss of appetite, and a sudden fever. The infection typically clears up within a few weeks, but it is possible for it to get so bad that it lasts for several months.
-
Treatment and Prevention - Treatment and Prevention Receiving the vaccine is the most effective method of preventing hepatitis A. Avoid eating anything at room temperature; only eat thoroughly cooked and hot foods. Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat, runny eggs, and food from vendors. A person with hepatitis A develops immunity and will likely never contract it again. However, the symptoms are severe, necessitating frequent absences from work or school to recuperate. Rest, avoid alcohol, and drink lots of fluids. The illness will pass, and full recovery is anticipated within three months.
Conclusion:
Waterborne diseases are prevalent and deadly in many parts of the world, but little is known about how to prevent them. The government is collaborating with local communities to educate them on essential health and sanitation practices and constructing water-cleaning technologies where it is most challenging to obtain clean water.
