Waterborne diseases are usually caused by poor sanitation or contaminated drinking water. Though more common in developing countries, these diseases can occur anywhere in the world if an outbreak occurs due to any catastrophic event that disrupts normal public health services.
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Annually, about 3.6 million people die globally from water-related diseases. Water contamination has taken more lives in the last 100 years than in any of the wars.
Waterborne diseases can even be contracted from water in public pools if the water there is contaminated by microorganisms. Also, if you undertake an international trip to places with questionable standards of potable water, you should take adequate measures.
In Camp Lejeune, the water contamination was eventually attributed to industrial solvents and benzene, amongst other chemicals. It was a case of water contamination on a large scale and affected all the veterans and families who were based there between August 1, 1953, till December 31, 1987.
For more than 33 years, people were affected. The government will cover medical care costs of those veterans who were stationed there on active duty for at least 30 days during the contamination period, in compliance with the Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012.
In the wake of the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit, you must stay vigilant with common water-borne diseases, even if there is no publicized water contamination in your area.
If you or a family member were affected by the Camp Lejeune water contamination issue, we suggest you check reliable online resources for updates regularly. Read on to know about a few common water-borne diseases.
1. Cholera
Cholera is a waterborne disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera. It results in diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps. Symptoms begin one to three days after exposure to contaminated water and can be fatal within hours if left untreated.
Antibiotics are effective at treating the disease, but only if they’re given early on. Cholera is preventable by drinking clean water, so it’s important to do so when traveling abroad or visiting areas with poor sanitation infrastructure, such as refugee camps.
2. Typhus
Typhus is a serious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Rickettsia typhi, which is transmitted to humans by body lice. The disease most often occurs in areas with poor hygiene and sanitation, such as refugee camps or other overcrowded areas where people are living without access to clean water or regular showers.
Typhus can be treated with antibiotics if caught early enough. If left untreated for too long, it can lead to death. Symptoms of typhus include high fever, headache, and rash on the chest and back.
3. Legionnaires’ disease
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by Legionella pneumophila, which is a type of bacteria. It’s contracted when the bacteria are inhaled and infect your lungs. Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, and a dry cough that can last for up to two weeks. You may feel very tired or weak at first but then get better quickly after taking antibiotics.
If you think you have contracted this disease, get in touch with your doctor immediately for treatment. It can prove fatal in absence of appropriate medical attention from a qualified practitioner.
4. Dysentery
Dysentery is an infection caused by bacteria. It can cause symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever.
Treatment for dysentery is fluids and antibiotics to stop the bacteria from spreading through the body. If not treated, it can be fatal.
5. Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by a parasite found in water. The parasite enters the body through contaminated water and travels to the blood vessels, where it reproduces and destroys red blood cells. This can result in liver damage, kidney damage, bladder cancer, infertility, and death.
6. Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is caused by the bacteria Leptospira interrogans. Leptospirosis can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animal urine. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.
If left untreated, it can lead to kidney damage and meningitis, which is an inflammation of membranes that surround the brain. Antibiotics are used to treat this disease in most cases.
7. Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. It can also be transmitted through contaminated water or food.
The symptoms of hepatitis A include fever, fatigue, jaundice, and abdominal pain. In some cases, you may also experience loss of appetite or nausea.
Hepatitis A is usually not serious, but it will make you feel ill for several weeks until your body clears out the virus on its own. However, if your immune system is weakened due to certain medical conditions or medications, you may develop severe hepatitis A. This can lead to long-term complications, including liver failure or even death in rare cases.
8. Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease caused by Cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that lives in the intestines of healthy people and animals. The parasite can be spread through water, food, or contact with an infected person.
Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. The illness usually lasts from 1 to 2 weeks if not treated appropriately with antibiotics.
Waterborne diseases are usually caused by poor sanitation or contaminated drinking water. They can be prevented through good hygiene practices and adequate sanitation facilities.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC estimates more than 7.2 million Americans get sick every year from waterborne diseases. This is the scenario despite the United States having one of the safest drinking water supplies in the world.
Hand washing with soap after using the toilet and before preparing food prevents many types of infections and diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other microorganisms that live on human hands. Boiling water until it bubbles will kill most pathogens contained within it.
If there are any reasonable doubts about its quality, water used for drinking should always be boiled before consumption or at least chlorinated. It’s also important to avoid swimming in lakes, ponds, or rivers during periods of heavy rainfall because runoff from farms could make these bodies of water unsafe for swimming. The runoff can be contaminated with toxic pesticides and herbicides.
