Research Articles Base: Water Born Diseases

Comparison of the Prevalence of Selected Waterborne Diseases such as Diarrheal and Typhoid Diseases

Comparison of the Prevalence of Selected Waterborne Diseases such as                 Diarrheal and Typhoid Diseases   Diarrheal Disease What is diarrheal disease?  It is a frequent and extreme releasing of the bowels with watery feces, typically this is considered as a warning sign of gastrointestinal infection.  According to (WHO) World Health Organization, prevalence of waterborne diseases like diarrheal disease causes a big health problem nowadays in all parts of the globe.   In the developing countries, diarrhea is the second leading cause of malnutrition and death among children below 5 years of age and has adverse effects to children under two years old.  In the United States, this disease is commonly caused by food-borne and water-borne outbreaks. It is killing 1.5 million of children yearly while it has been reported by (WHO World Health Organization that there is already 2 billion cases of diarrheal disease worldwide.   Diarrhea patient can last only for several days if without immediate medical treatment.  Many people die from diarrhea because of the severe dehydration and fluid loss in the body.  Water and salts are most essential elements that are needed in order to survive from this kind of water-born disease. (From the cluster on Communicable Diseases (CDS) and the Water, Sanitation and Health unit (WSH) of WHO) Acute Diarrhea and Chronic Diarrhea Acute diarrhea is associated with abdominal cramping and bloating.    This leads to severe dehydration and electrolyte losses of the body.  This is usually caused by a viral gastroenteritis, antibiotics and drugs that contain magnesium are best medicine to take.  Usually, acute diarrhea can be resolving fast even without medication just be careful with the food that you eat like ground beef or fresh fruit since they have E’coli. It is very important for the patient to take plenty of water and salt. Taking Milk and dairy products worsen the disease.  Patients must avoid eating these kinds of foods within 24 to 48 hours.  Soups and broth are recommended as initial dietary in take. The doctors may prescribe antibiotics for those who have high fever, and dysentery. On the other hand, Chronic diarrhea may last for 2 weeks, you can observe that the stools become bloody, oily and watery.  This is caused by (IBD) Inflammatory Bowel Disease which includes ulcerative colitis.  You will experience weight loss, abdominal pain and loss of appetite.  Other causes of acute diarrhea are radiation therapy and colon cancer. (From the cluster on Communicable Diseases (CDS) and the Water, Sanitation and Health unit (WSH) of WHO) How to treat chronic diarrhea? A stool sample test will determine the type of diarrhea a patient has. Aside from that, the patient should undergo a series of laboratory tests such as blood count if there is possible anemia and infections; and an electrolyte count assessment as well as the examination of the kidney in order to assess patient’s total nutritional status.  Endoscopic examination of the colon is most common evaluation of chronic diarrhea. Medicines such as Antimotility agents and opiate antidarrheal are the most effective drugs for chronic diarrhea treatment. (From the cluster on Communicable Diseases (CDS) and the Water, Sanitation and Health unit (WSH) of WHO) Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever In comparison, typhoid and paratyphoid fevers are infections that are being brought by bacteria which transmitted from feces and urine of people  through eating and drinking.  Drinking contaminated water is one of the leading causes of typhoid fever among people worldwide. This disease is very widespread in low industrialized countries which has major problem in sewage disposal and flooding, as well as having the problem of unsafe drinking water.  Based on the research made, there is about 17 million cases of typhoid fever   every year around the globe.  Preventive measures have been thought by many public health authorities in order to lessen the widespread of typhoid fever such as personal hygiene, through regular hand-washing before eating and preparing food, after toilet use a, having  a safe water supply and proper sanitation systems.  There are preventive measures for fighting against typhoid, and two of those are vaccination and taking antibiotics drugs.   But these remedies do not really provide complete protection and cure from the infection.  (From the cluster on Communicable Diseases (CDS) and the Water, Sanitation and Health unit (WSH) of WHO) How does the Disease Affects the People Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi of the intestinal tract and bloodstream.  Most patients experience fever as high as 39 to 40 degrees Celsius and other symptoms such as depression, anorexia, headache, diarrhea or constipation; as well as enlarging the liver and spleen.  All these symptoms will manifest after one to three weeks of contamination.  The same symptoms are being experienced in paratyphoid fever but it is milder than typhoid fever.  Remember, once a person is already contaminated by the bacteria, they increasingly grow and spread inside the intestines then passing through the bloodstream.  Despite the recovery from this disease, there is still possibility that the patient will be the carrier of the bacteria and this person can pass on the infection to others.  (From the cluster on Communicable Diseases (CDS) and the Water, Sanitation and Health unit (WSH) of WHO)   Although, both diarrheal and typhoid fever diseases need extra preventive measures and appropriate medical attention.  It may therefore conclude that typhoid fever disease is more serious and contagious or infectious compared to diarrheal disease. References: Prepared for World Water Day 2001. Reviewed by staff and experts from the cluster on Communicable Diseases (CDS) and the Water, Sanitation and Health unit (WSH), World Health Organization (WHO) Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Comparison of the Prevalence of Selected Waterborne Diseases such as Diarrheal and Typhoid Diseases

Comparison of the Prevalence of Selected Waterborne Diseases such as Diarrheal and Typhoid Diseases Diarrheal Dise...

MSC (Public Health) Assessing the impact of waterborne diseases as a result of climate change in Liberia: a case study of marshall wetlands 2005-2011.

Assessing the impact of waterborne diseases as a result of climate change in Liberia: a case study of marshall wetlands 2005-2011. Climate directly impacts the occurrence of waterborne disease through effects on the water temperature and precipitation frequency and intensity.  “These effects are pathogen and pollutant specific, and risks for human disease are markedly affected by local conditions, including regional water and sewage treatment capacities and practices. Domestic water treatment plants may be susceptible to climate change leading to human health risks. For example, droughts may cause problems with increased concentrations of effluent pathogens and overwhelm water treatment plants; aging water treatment plants are particularly at risk. Urbanization of coastal regions may lead to additional nutrient, chemical, and pathogen loading in runoff. (Waterborne Diseases.  http://www.cdc.gov/climatechange/effects/waterborne.htm, retrieved 13 April, 2011.)” There is still a lot more to be discovered about the impacts of weather and climate on specific pathogens.  Climate also indirectly impacts waterborne disease through changes in ocean and coastal ecosystems.  Changes in the pH, nutrient and contaminant runoff, salinity, and water security are imminent.  This affects and results in the degradation of fresh water for drinking, washing food, cooking, and irrigation.  Developing and emerging economies are the most affected because a majority of their population still relies on water from untreated surface water of rivers, streams and other open sources. “Ecosystem degradation from climate change will likely result in pressure on agricultural productivity, crop failure, malnutrition, starvation, increasing population displacement, and resource conflict, all of which are predisposing factors for increased human susceptibility and increased risk of waterborne disease transmission due to surface water contamination with human waste and increased contact with such waters through washing and consumption. Climate change may also affect the distribution and concentrations of chemical contaminants in coastal and ocean waters, for example through release of chemical contaminants previously bound up in polar ice sheets or sediments, through changes in volume and composition of runoff from coastal and watershed development, or through changes in coastal and ocean goods and services. Both naturally occurring and pollution-related ocean health threats will likely be exacerbated by climate change. Other climate-related environmental changes may impact marine food webs as well, such as pesticide runoff, leaching of arsenic, fluoride, and nitrates from fertilizers, and lead contamination of drinking and recreational waters through excess rainfall and flooding. (Waterborne Diseases.  http://www.cdc.gov/climatechange/effects/waterborne.htm, retrieved 13 April, 2011.)” The following is a list of food or waterborne diseases and water contact diseases in Liberia: Hepatitis A - viral disease that interferes with the functioning of the liver; spread through consumption of food or water contaminated with fecal matter, principally in areas of poor sanitation; victims exhibit fever, jaundice, and diarrhea; 15% of victims will experience prolonged symptoms over 6-9 months; vaccine available. Hepatitis E - water-borne viral disease that interferes with the functioning of the liver; most commonly spread through fecal contamination of drinking water; victims exhibit jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, and dark colored urine. Typhoid fever - bacterial disease spread through contact with food or water contaminated by fecal matter or sewage; victims’ exhibit sustained high fevers; left untreated, mortality rates can reach 20%. water contact diseases acquired through swimming or wading in freshwater lakes, streams, and rivers: Leptospirosis - bacterial disease that affects animals and humans; infection occurs through contact with water, food, or soil contaminated by animal urine; symptoms include high fever, severe headache, vomiting, jaundice, and diarrhea; untreated, the disease can result in kidney damage, liver failure, meningitis, or respiratory distress; fatality rates are low but left untreated recovery can take months. Schistosomiasis - caused by parasitic trematode flatworm Schistosoma; fresh water snails act as intermediate host and release larval form of parasite that penetrates the skin of people exposed to contaminated water; worms mature and reproduce in the blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and intestines releasing eggs, which become trapped in tissues triggering an immune response; may manifest as either urinary or intestinal disease resulting in decreased work or learning capacity; mortality, while generally low, may occur in advanced cases usually due to bladder cancer; endemic in 74 developing countries with 80% of infected people living in sub-Saharan Africa; humans act as the reservoir for this parasite. (Liberia Major Infectious Diseases.  http://www.indexmundi.com/liberia/major_infectious_diseases.html, retrieved 13 April, 2011.)” UNICEF and FACE Africa (with the support of their celebrity ambassadors) are two organizations working to bring clean water and improve sanitation conditions in Liberia.  “UNICEF and its partners have introduced a far-reaching new initiative to reduce the number of Liberian families falling ill and dying from unsafe water.  The initiative – which is supported by UNICEF, Population Services International (PSI) and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare – will promote the use of basic hygiene and safe water. WaterGuard™, a household water treatment solution, is now available for all Liberians at risk of preventable waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and typhoid. (Liberia launches safe-water campaign to prevent disease outbreaks.  http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/liberia_51417.html, retrieved 13 April, 2011.)”  FACE Africa is an organization that works specifically to bring clean water and improve sanitation in Liberia.  Celebrities such as Dikembe Mutombo (NBA player), Whitney Port (TV personality), and Marcus Samuelson (Chef) are making an impact on the movement to rebuild Liberia. In so doing, lives that are lost from preventable water-borne diseases in Liberia can now be secured.  Healing the wounds from years of war and violence in Liberia will take a concerted effort by local governments and NGOs. But, water is an indisputable facet of this effort of restoring Liberia and protecting its civilians.  Celebrities are stepping up the plate for the FACE Gala and combating infrastructural inequities that threaten to cripple a country. Now that’s something worth walking the red carpet for.  (Celebrities Raise Awareness About H20 Issues in Liberia.  http://www.waterwideweb.org/celebrities-raise-awareness-about-h20-issues-in-liberia.html, retrieved 13 April, 2011.)   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

MSC (Public Health) Assessing the impact of waterborne diseases as a result of climate change in Liberia: a case study of marshall wetlands 2005-2011.

Assessing the impact of waterborne diseases as a result of climate change in Liberia: a case study of marshall wetlands 2005-2011. Clim...