13. Water borne diseases caused by bacteria and virus

Have you ever got sick after drinking water from an unhygienic place? This is because water contains harmful microbes which may cause the disease. Such type of diseases which are caused by consuming contaminated water resource is called water-borne diseases.

Microorganisms such as bacteria, virus are the principal causative agents for water-borne infectious disease. These diseases can be easily spread while bathing, washing, drinking water, or eating food exposed to contaminated water.

 

 

 

Water provides the proper environment for the breeding and propagation of microbes. Many microorganisms are utilising water to spread harmful

water-borne diseases, which often occur after severe rainfall and snowfall.

 

Climate changes play an essential role in increasing the severity and frequency of spreading water-borne diseases. If every person on the planet could practice safe sanitation and hygiene and access to clean water, these diseases would not exist.

 

Some water-borne diseases are cholera, typhoid, infectious hepatitis, poliomyelitis, diarrhoea, etc.

 

The most common water-borne diseases and their causative microbial agents are given below.

 

Cholera is an epidemic disease. During the \(19'th\) century, it spreads across the world, and millions of people died. It is an Acute diarrhoeal disease.
 

Causative organism: Vibrio cholerae
Mode of transmission: Contaminated food, water, oral route and through houseflies.
Tissue/Organ affected: Intestinal tract
Symptoms:

Preventive and Control Measures: Hygienic sanitary condition, intake of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS).

 

Typhoid fever is also known as enteric fever. This disease is common in children of the age group \(1\) to \(15\) years. Nearly \(2.5 million\) people suffer from typhoid disease every year.

 

Causative organism: Salmonella typhi
Mode of transmission: Food and water contaminated with faeces of an infected person and through houseflies.
Tissue/Organ affected: Small intestine.
Symptoms:

Preventive and Control Measures: Preventing contamination of food by flies and dust, improvement of basic sanitation, treatment with antibiotic drugs.

 

 

Causative organism:  Hepatitis A virus (HAV)

Mode of transmission: It is transmitted through contaminated water and food through the oral route.

Tissue/Organ affected: Inflammation of the Liver.

Symptoms:

Preventive and Control Measures: Prevention of food contamination, drinking chlorinated boiled water, personal hygiene will help to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A.

Vaccine: Prevention of hepatitis A is through vaccination with the hepatitis A vaccine.

Treatment: There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Recovery from symptoms following infection may be slow and may take several weeks or months.