7 Most Common Waterborne Diseases in Developing Countries and How to Prevent Them
Peculiar Women Of Substance Foundation
A non profit that is into women empowerment, child advocacy, climate change and the SDGs
Each year, waterborne diseases afflict hundreds of millions of people, primarily those living without safe, accessible water in developing countries.
Of the seven most common waterborne diseases in the world, diarrhea is the central symptom. The latest research shows that diarrhea is the?second leading cause of death?for children under the age of five, causing more childhood deaths than malaria, AIDS, and measles combined.
That’s hundreds of thousands of deaths, but there is hope for the future. Experts believe we can end the?global water and sanitation crisis?in our lifetime.
What are Waterborne Diseases?
Waterborne diseases are illnesses caused by microscopic organisms, like viruses and bacteria, that are ingested through contaminated water or by coming in contact with feces.
If every person on the planet was able to practice safe sanitation and hygiene and have access to clean water, these diseases would not exist. Governments, NGOs, and communities themselves have made great strides in the past 20 years to end waterborne diseases. Still, there is much to be done.
Learn about five waterborne diseases and help prevent them today.
1. Typhoid Fever
Although rare in industrialized countries,?typhoid?fever is well-known in extremely poor parts of developing nations; it’s estimated that up to?20 million people?worldwide suffer from the illness each year. It’s spread through contaminated food, unsafe water, and poor sanitation, and it is highly contagious.
Symptoms include:
Prevention and Treatment
Vaccines are recommended for people who are traveling in areas where poor sanitation and unsafe water are common. The vaccine can be injected via a shot or taken orally for a number of days. To prevent it, refrain from drinking any water that isn’t bottled and sealed, and do not eat food from villages or street vendors. Typhoid is treated with antibiotics.
2. Cholera
Cholera?is commonly found in humanitarian emergencies or marginalized villages where poverty and poor sanitation are rampant. The disease is spread through contaminated water and causes severe dehydration and diarrhea. Cholera can be fatal within days or even hours of exposure to the bacteria, but only 1 in 10 people will develop life-threatening symptoms.
Symptoms include:
Prevention and Treatment
Cholera is a waterborne illness that’s easily prevented when traveling. Wash your hands often, only eat foods that are completely cooked and hot (no sushi), and only eat vegetables you can peel yourself, like avocados, bananas, and oranges. Of course, drink safe water.
When handwashing in unavailable, cholera can impact an entire village. In developing countries like Ethiopia, data shows that?40 percent of households?do not have means to wash their hands properly, meaning they don’t have safe water, soap, and a facility to wash. This makes hygiene management and disease prevention nearly impossible for these communities.
Lifewater helps prevent cholera in remote villages by teaching families how to construct their own handwashing devices. To date, 5,970 homes in Ethiopia alone have built their own handwashing station (called a “tippy tap“) using locally-sourced materials.
3. Giardia
This waterborne disease is shared through contaminated water, most often in ponds and streams, but it can also be found in a town’s water supply, swimming pools, and more. The infection is caused by a parasite and typically clears up after a few weeks. However, it’s possible for those who have been exposed will experience intestinal problems for years to come.
Symptoms include:
领英推荐
Prevention and Treatment
While there is no vaccine for?giardia, there are simple ways to avoid the infection. Wash your hands with soap often, don’t swallow water while swimming, and drink only bottled water.
With time, the immune system will typically beat giardia on its own. But, if symptoms worsen, doctors prescribe anti-parasite and antibiotic medications.
Water-poor communities cannot protect themselves from illnesses like giardia, and treatment for this illness can come at a high cost for a family living in poverty. For these reasons, Lifewater’s programs focus on long-term prevention. This includes constructing safe water sources and teaching health practices, one house at a time, until the entire community has the resources and the knowledge to prevent waterborne illness.
When families learn how to construct their own handwashing facilities, bathrooms, and dish drying racks, they take control of their health. They check off a list of basic health practices, and they become certified Lifewater “Healthy Homes.”
4. Dysentery
An intestinal infection,?dysentery?is a waterborne disease characterized by severe diarrhea as well as blood or mucus in the stool. Dysentery is good reason to always wash your hands, as the disease is spread mainly through?poor hygiene. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites in unsafe food and water and by people coming in contact with fecal matter. If someone experiencing dysentery cannot replace fluids quickly enough, their life could be at risk.
Symptoms include:
Prevention and Treatment
To prevent dysentery, wash your hands with soap frequently, order all drinks without ice, don’t eat food sold by street vendors, and only eat fruits you can peel. Drink only sealed, bottled water while traveling in places with higher dysentery risk, such as communities where proper hygiene practices are uncommon.
Mild dysentery usually clears up with rest and fluids, but over-the-counter medications such as Pepto-Bismol can help with stomach cramping. More severe cases can be treated with antibiotics, although some strains of the disease are resistant.
5. Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A?is a liver infection caused by consuming contaminated food and water or by coming in close contact with someone who has the infection. People who travel in developing countries often or work in rural communities with poor sanitation and hygiene management are most exposed to the disease.
Symptoms include:
The infection usually goes away in a few weeks, but it’s possible that it can become severe and last several months.
Prevention and Treatment
The best way to prevent hepatitis A is by getting the vaccine. Eat only foods that are thoroughly cooked and served hot, and avoid eating anything at room temperature. Only eat fruit that you can peel and that you have peeled yourself. Don’t eat from food vendors and don’t eat runny eggs or raw/rare meat. For a full list of dos and don’ts, visit the CDC’s page on Hepatitis A?here.
Once a person has hepatitis A, they build an immunity and will likely never get it again. However, the symptoms are serious, often forcing people to take time off work or school to recover. If you have contracted hepatitis A, rest, avoid drinking alcohol, and drink plenty of fluids. The disease will run its course, and full recovery is expected after three months.
Prevent Waterborne Diseases for Good: Give Towards the Water For Life Project
The Akaah Achiase, Adeiso Borehole Project signifies a monumental opportunity for you to create a lasting, positive impact in the lives of those who are in dire need of clean water. Our determination to propel this project forward is steadfast, and we extend a heartfelt invitation to you to join us in our mission to bring clean water to Akaah Achiase, Adeiso.
Together, we have the power to transform this community and bestow upon its residents a brighter, healthier future. Stay tuned for regular updates on our progress and fundraising endeavors.
?
Source: Lifewater.org
Teaching, Writing, Leadership, Public Speaking, Entrepreneurship, Mentoring Project Managment, Communication, Community Development, Youth Empowerment
1 年Great