Diseases can be rampant in developing countries where it is difficult for people to access essential resources like food, water, and shelter. Waterborne diseases are one among those. They are caused by microorganisms present in contaminated water. Typhoid, diarrhoea, cholera, and hepatitis worm infections are some examples of waterborne diseases.
Waterborne diseases mainly affect children due to their low immunity levels and hampered, questionable hygiene practices. The World Health Organization reports that around 844 million people lack proper access to basic drinking water. Using contaminated water for preparing food, drinking, and other purposes can cause the transmission of waterborne diseases.
Waterborne diseases affect millions of people worldwide, making them a global health threat. In this blog, we will examine the different causes of waterborne diseases and their treatment methods. By properly understanding these diseases and their treatment and prevention methods, we can take steps to curtail their spread and make society a healthier place.
What are the Causes of Waterborne Diseases?
There are several causes of waterborne diseases. Some of these are as follows:
Microbial Contamination: Parasites, viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms can invade and contaminate water sources. These are the main causes of waterborne diseases. When people consume contaminated water from these water sources, they get plagued by waterborne diseases. Sewage and faeces are some ways water sources get infused with microorganisms that cause diseases.
Inadequate Sanitation: In some places, due to a lack of proper resources, wastewater management is not done properly, and sanitation practices are not up to the mark. Waste is not disposed of properly, which allows pathogens to enter water supply sources, which is another cause of waterborne diseases.
Contaminated Drinking Water: Proper sanitation and treatment of drinking water are not prioritized in some places, which allows harmful bacteria that cause waterborne diseases to harbour.
Agricultural Runoff: In places that have rich agricultural practices, the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and animal waste is a given. The agricultural runoff with these can sometimes carry bacteria, which then transfer into the nearby water bodies. This also leads to water contamination, which can cause waterborne diseases.
Industrial Discharges: A lot of industrial waste is often not disposed of properly and is just dumped into the water bodies. This is dangerous, as the water can become contaminated and cause waterborne diseases to a wide population.
Natural Disasters: Chemicals and diseases can contaminate water sources during natural catastrophes such as hurricanes, floods, and other catastrophic occurrences. During these catastrophes, weakened infrastructure and disrupted sanitation systems further increase the danger of waterborne infections.
Treatment Approaches
There are different ways in which waterborne diseases can be treated. Many of these waterborne diseases treatment options depend on the severity of the disease.
Rehydration Therapy
When waterborne diseases of any kind bog down someone, they experience a significant loss of fluid from the body through vomiting and diarrhoea, which leads to dehydration. So, one of the first waterborne disease treatment methods is to ensure the body gets hydrated quickly, and that is why rehydration therapy is used.
Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS): ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) is commonly used to treat dehydration. The salts and sugars in ORS can replenish the lost fluids from the body very quickly. This is widely used for mild and moderate dehydration.
Intravenous (IV) Fluids: Intravenous fluids are administered to patients with severe waterborne diseases.
Antibiotics
Antibiotic medications can be used to treat waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera, and dysentery. They can be an effective treatment method for these diseases as they effectively fight bacteria and reduce the length and course of the particular disease that has affected a person.
Antiviral Medications
Although there may not be a particular antiviral therapy for viral waterborne diseases like Hepatitis A, supportive care is provided to manage symptoms and allow the body’s immune system to eradicate the infection.
Antiparasitic Medications
Antiparasitic drugs can treat parasitic infections such as giardiasis and amoebiasis. These medications assist the body in getting rid of the parasites causing the infection.
Safe Drinking Water
Boiling Water: Always consume boiled and treated safe drinking water. Strictly avoid drinking directly from the tap. Consume boiled water or bottled water to remain safe from waterborne diseases. Clean and safe drinking water is one of the best prevention and treatment methods for waterborne diseases.
Sanitation and Hygiene
Proper Sanitation: The best way to prevent waterborne diseases is to maintain proper sanitation and hygiene practices. Make sure to wash your hands properly with soap and water before you have your meals, and maintain proper and high personal hygiene standards by wearing clean clothes and bathing properly.
FAQs
- What are waterborne diseases?
Waterborne diseases are caused by microorganisms that are spread by polluted water. They pose a severe risk to health, particularly in places with low water quality and inadequate sanitation practices.
- How are waterborne diseases transmitted?
Waterborne diseases are spread in different ways, including through consumption of contaminated water, contact with contaminated water, inadequate sanitation, floods, and eating food that has been washed in contaminated water.
- What are some common symptoms of waterborne diseases?
Some of the common effects of waterborne diseases include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramping, fever, and exhaustion, which are frequently present and can result in dehydration.
- Which are the most common waterborne diseases?
Typhoid fever, dysentery, giardiasis, hepatitis A, and cryptosporidiosis are common waterborne diseases.