It’s just too odd that water, being the very essence of life, poses threats to the human race. Waterborne diseases, for instance, result to different levels of threats to people contracting any of the disease-causing pathogens. The very common cholera, for instance, although causes mild diarrhea and vomiting to some, can lead to death on others. According to CDC, 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalized each year because of Legionnaires’ disease alone. Cryptosporidiosis costs each patient hospitalized for 6 days $19,400 on average.
How can waterborne diseases be prevented?
Disease: Legionnaires’ disease
Cause: Legionella pneumophila bacteria
Disease: Legionnaires’ disease
Cause: Legionella pneumophila bacteria
Symptoms: Pontiac fever producing milder symptoms that resemble to acute influenza but without pneumonia. Other severe symptoms include fever, chills, pneumonia (with cough that sometimes produces sputum), ataxia, anorexia, muscle aches, malaise as well as occasional diarrhea and vomiting
Prevention: (1) Stop smoking as it is the number one factor in acquiring Legionnaires’ disease due to chronic lung problems. (2) Avoid contaminated hot tubs and whirlpool spas. (3) If you work for aid conditioning or water treatment systems, use respiratory masks while at work. (4) Persons with weaker immune system, such as elderly, children, and people with preexisting conditions must avoid places of possible contamination.
Disease: Cryptosporidiosis
Cause: Cryptosporidium parvum protozoa
Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms, watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, substantial loss of weight, bloating, increased gas, and nausea
Prevention: (1) Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after handling human or animal feces. (2) Practice safer sex; never do rimming. (3) Be careful around animals as well as with handling their cages. (4) Help yourself from swallowing water in swimming pools and public hot tubs. (5) Do not swim in public pools and hot tubs when you have diarrhea so as to protect other people. (6) Properly wash and cook food. (7) Drink boiled water, distilled water, filtered water, and or bottled water.
Disease: Giardiasis
Cause: Giardia lamblia protozoa
Symptoms: Diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, bloating, and flatulence
Prevention: (1) Practice good hygiene. (2) Wash hands often. (3) Wash food carefully before eating or cooking. (4) Do not drink contaminated water by not swallowing water in recreational water as well as untreated water. (5) Avoid exposure to fecal matters during sexual activity.
Disease: Cholera
Cause: Vibrio cholera bacteria
Symptoms: In severe forms, it is known to be one of the most rapidly fatal illnesses known. Symptoms include very watery diarrhea, nausea, cramps, nosebleed, rapid pulse, and vomiting. At severe cases, hypovolemic shocks occur, at which point death can occur in 12–18 hours.
Prevention: When going to places with the epidemic, (1) bring safe water and beverage or drink only boiled or treated water, (2) eat only hot and thoroughly cooked food or fruits that you peeled yourself, (3) avoid raw or undercooked foods, and (4) do not ingest street food and drinks.
Disease: Botulism
Cause: Clostridium botulinum bacteria
Symptoms: Dry mouth, blurred and or double vision, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, slurred speech, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea. Death is usually caused by respiratory failure.
Prevention: Prepare and store food carefully and safely.
Disease: Typhoid
Cause: Salmonella typhi bacteria
Symptoms: Characterized by sustained fever up to 40°C or 104°F, profuse sweating, diarrhea, less commonly a rash may occur. Symptoms progress to delirium and the spleen as well as the liver enlarge if untreated. In this case, it can last up to four weeks and can cause death.
Prevention: (1) Do not take in high-risk food and drinks. (2) Get vaccinated against typhoid fever.
Disease: Hepatitis A
Cause: Hepatitis A virus
Symptoms: Symptoms are only acute (no chronic stage to the virus) and include Fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, itching, jaundice and depression.
Prevention: (1) Get vaccinated against Hepatitis A. (2) Always wash hands with soap after using the comfort room, and disinfect often. (3) Eat carefully cleaned or freshly cooked foods. (4) Make sure the water or beverage to drink is clean and safe.
Disease: Dysentery
Cause: Shigella dysenteriae bacteria or entamoeba histolytica amoeba
Symptoms: Frequent passage of feces with blood and or mucus, and in some cases vomiting of blood.
Prevention: (1) Drink only boiled, treated water, or bottled water. (2) Avoid raw, undercooked, and street foods. (3) Wash hands carefully and thoroughly often or as necessary.
Disease: Polio
Cause: Polioviruses
Symptoms: 90-95% of patients show no symptoms; 4-8% have minor symptoms comparative with delirium, headache, fever, occasional seizures, and spastic paralysis; 1% have symptoms of non-paralytic aseptic meningitis; and the rest have serious symptoms resulting to paralysis or death
Prevention: Get vaccinated against polio.
