It’s world water day:Here’s what to know about water borne illness
Globally 1.8 million people consume water that is contaminated with faeces
Water borne illnesses are portable water and recreational water associated diseases.
Water outbreak agents are bacterial, viral , parasitic and chemical agents that cause water borne diseases
Routes of transmission
Water borne illnesses are gotten from contaminated water by ingestion or consumption of water, through dermal contact, which is contact of the water with skin or mucous membranes or through inhalation, by breathing in mist or aerosolised water particles.
Water facts
- In 2015, 91% of the world’s population had access to an improved drinking-water source, compared with 76% in 1990.
- 2.6 billion people have gained access to an improved drinking water source since 1990.
- 4.2 billion people now get water through a piped connection; 2.4 billion access water through other improved sources including public taps, protected wells and boreholes.
- 663 million people rely on unimproved sources, including 159 million dependent on surface water.
- Globally, at least 1.8 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with faeces.
- Contaminated water can transmit diseases such diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Contaminated drinking-water is estimated to cause 502 000 diarrhoeal deaths each year.
- By 2025, half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas.
- In low- and middle-income countries, 38% of health care facilities lack improved water source, 19% do not have improved sanitation and 35% lack water and soap for hand washing.
The burden of unsafe water
Almost one tenth of the global disease burden could be prevented by:
- Increasing access to safe drinking water
- Improving sanitation and hygiene
- Improving water management to reduce risks of water-borne infectious diseases, and accidental drowning during recreation.
Annually, safer water could prevent:
- 1.4 million child deaths from diarrhoea
- 500 000 deaths from malaria
- 860 000 child deaths from malnutrition
- 280 000 deaths from drowning
- 5 million people from being seriously incapacitated from lymphatic filariasis and another 5 million from trachoma.
Examples of water borne diseases are mentioned below:
Parasitic diseases
1.Amoebiasis
Causative agent
- Entamoeba histolytica
Mode of water contamination
- Sewage getting to drinking water
- Non treated drinking water
- Flies contaminating water supply
Symptoms of infection
- Diarrhoea
- Fever
- Abdominal discomfort
- Weight loss
2.Cryptosporidiosis
Causative agent
- Cryptosporidium parvum
Mode of water contamination
- Usually collects on water filters and membranes that cannot be disinfected
- Animal manure
- Seasonal runoff of water
Symptoms of infection
- Usually self-limiting but can be severe in immune compromised persons
- Watery diarrhoea
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Muscle aches
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Flu-like symptoms
3.Cyclosporiasis
Causative agent
- Cyclospora cayetanensis
Mode of water contamination
- Sewage contaminating water supplly
- Non-treated drinking water
Symptoms of infection
- Cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Muscle aches
- Fever
- Fatigue
4.Giardiasis
Causative organism
- Giardia lamblia
Source of water contamination
- Untreated water
- Poor disinfection of water
- Pipe breaks and pipe leaks
- Groundwater contamination
Symptoms of infection
- Diarrhoea
- Intestinal malabsorbtion
- Abdominal cramps
- Microsporidiosis
5.Microsporidiosis
Causative organism
- Microsporidia
- Mostly affects immunocompromised persons like AIDS patients
Mode of water contamination
- Causative organism has been found in ground water,the origin of drinking water
Symptoms of infection
- Chronic diarrhoea
- Dehydration
- Weight loss
- Keratoconjuctivitis
- Myositis
- Hepatitis
Diseaeases caused by bacteria
1.Botulism
Causative agent
- Clostridium botulinum
Mode of water contamination
- The organism can enter an open wound from contaminated water
- Can enter the gastrointestinal tract through consumption of contaminated drinking water or food
Symptoms of infection
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision or double vision
- Difficulty with swallowing
- Muscle weakness
- Slurred speech
- Vomiting
2.Campylobacteriosis
Causative agent
- Mostly Campylobacter jejuni
Mode of water contamination
- Drinking water contaminated with faeces
Symptoms of infection - Produces dysentery like symptoms along with a high fever
- Usually lasts 2–10 days.
3.Cholera
Causative organism
- Vibrio cholerae
Mode of water contamination
- Drinking water contaminated with the bacterium
Symptoms of infection
- Can be very severe
- Watery diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Cramps
- Nose bleed
- Rapid pulse
- Hypovolemic shock
- In severe cases death can occur in 12–18 hours
4.E. coli Infection
Causative agent
- Some strains of Escherichia coli
Mode of water contamination
- Water contaminated with the bacteria
Symptoms of infection
- Mostly diarrhoea
- Can lead to death in immunocompromised individuals, the very young, and the elderly due to dehydration from prolonged illness.
5.M. marinum infection
Causative agent
- Mycobacterium marinum
Mode of water contamination
- The organism is naturally occuring in water
- Most cases are from exposure in swimming pools or aquariums
Symptoms of infection
- Manifests as lesions typically located on the elbows, knees, and feet for infections gotten from swimming pools
- Lesions are typically located on the hands for infections gotten from aquariums
- The lesions may be painless or painful.
Diseases caused by viruses
1.SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
Causative agent
- Coronavirus
Mode of water contamination
- Usually manifests in improperly treated water
Symptoms of infection
- Fever
- Myalgia
- Lethargy
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
- Cough and sore throat
2.Hepatitis A Infection
Causative agent
- Hepatitis A virus (HAV)
Source of water contamination
- Faecal contamination of drinking water
Symptoms of infection
- Usually acute, hepatitis A does not run a chronic course
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Weight loss
- Itching
- Jaundice
3.Poliomyelitis (Polio)
Causative agent
- Poliovirus
Mode of water contamination
- Enters water through the faeces of infected people
Symptoms of infection
- 90-95% of people have no symptoms
- 4-8% have minor symptoms like delirium, headache, fever, and occasional seizures or spastic paralysis,
- 1% have symptoms of non-paralytic aseptic meningitis.
- The rest have serious symptoms resulting in paralysis or death
