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Common Waterborne Diseases
7 Most Common Waterborne Diseases (and
How to Prevent Them)
Lifewater
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 seven
waterborne diseases and help prevent them today.
1. Typhoid
Fever
|
| Two children bathe in a pond in Cambodia |
It’s spread through
contaminated food, unsafe water, and poor sanitation, and it is highly
contagious.
Symptoms include:
·
A fever that increases gradually
·
Muscle aches
·
Fatigue
·
Sweating
·
Diarrhea or constipation
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:
·
Nausea
·
Vomiting
·
Diarrhea
·
Muscle cramps
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.
 |
| Lifewater teaches proper handwashing in three developing countries. |
In developing
countries like Ethiopia, data shows that 97% 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:
·
Abdominal pain
·
Cramps and bloating
·
Diarrhea
·
Nausea
·
Weight loss
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.
 |
| Suki stands proudly next to her Healthy Home Cerfication, Ethiopia |
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:
·
Stomach cramps and pain
·
Diarrhea
·
Fever
·
Nausea
·
Vomiting
·
Dehydration
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. Escherichia
Coli (E. coli)
E. coli is a bacteria with various
strains, some dangerous and some beneficial.
For example, E.
coli bacteria is important in creating a healthy intestinal tract.
However, if animal
waste has found its way into farmland where produce is grown or if strains of
E. coli are spread through the process of making ground beef, those who consume
these foods could experience symptoms of the waterborne illness.
The bacteria is
also found in unsafe water sources around the globe where human water sources
and cattle coexist.
Symptoms of
dangerous strains of E. coli are similar to that of dysentery and other
waterborne diseases.
Most bouts of E.
coli pass within a week, but older people and young children have a greater
chance of developing life-threatening symptoms.
Anyone believed to
have been exposed to contaminated food or water should contact a doctor if
diarrhea contains blood.
Prevention and
Treatment
As always, avoid
water possibly contaminated by human and/or animal feces (like ponds, rivers,
and swamps).
If you are going to
eat ground beef, cook thoroughly. Wash fruits and vegetables well, wash hands
often, and drink only safe water.
To treat the
disease, drink plenty of safe water, rest, and take over-the-counter diarrheal
medication.
 |
| A woman and her child gather water from the swamp in Kikomera Biri village |
Lifewater staff are
serving the village of Kikomera Biri, Uganda, where families gather water from
a swamp.
The results of
water testing showed an extremely high risk for dangerous pathogens like
typhoid, harmful strains of E. coli, and other waterborne diseases.
Unless this
community — which is already experiencing extreme poverty — pays for a taxi to
drive into town for expensive, bottled water, they have no choice but to keep
drinking from the swamp.
Thankfully, a new
safe water source for all 299 residents is planned for construction this year.
6. 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:
·
Fatigue
·
Clay-colored bowel movements
·
Jaundice
·
Nausea and vomiting
·
Abdominal pain, especially near your liver
·
Loss of appetite
·
Sudden fever
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.
7. Salmonella
Most cases of salmonella come from ingesting food or
water contaminated with feces.
Undercooked meat,
egg products, fruits, and vegetables can also carry the disease.
Most people don’t
develop complications, but children, pregnant women, older adults, and people
with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
Symptoms include:
·
Blood in stool
·
Chills
·
Headache
·
Diarrhea
Prevention and
Treatment
When preparing your
own food, make sure to cook thoroughly and store or freeze within 30 minutes of
use.
Avoid touching
birds or reptiles, and as always, wash your hands frequently.
Salmonella
infection dehydrates the body. Treat it by drinking fluids and electrolytes.
More serious infections can require hospitalization and antibiotics.
Prevent Waterborne Diseases for Good: Give
with Lifewater
There are many
parts in the world where waterborne diseases are rampant, deadly, and knowledge
about prevention is not widely available.
 |
| A Lifewater staff member greets a village resident in Cambodia |
Over and over
again, cholera is prevented and typhoid
eradicated. Children no longer battle waterborne illness, and parents go back
to work.
When you become
a monthly giving partner with Lifewater, you give safe water to
one person for life every month. You’ll receive real-time updates on the status
of their community’s progress and photos to share with friends and family.
You can help
eliminate waterborne diseases for good. Join us today.
Lifewater seeks to be the hands and feet of Jesus
among the world’s most marginalized communities. Our values are our compass;
they help us remember the who, why, and how of our work.
For more
than 40 years, Lifewater has been bringing clean water, improved health, and
the hope of the gospel to families living in extreme poverty. Since 1977, we’ve
served more than 2.5 million people across 45 countries.
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