30 HEALTH AND SANITATION
Treat water before drinking
Numerous communities across South Africa still rely on untreated water for their daily supply ; often , they have very limited access to adequate sanitation facilities . As a result , these communities are threatened by waterborne and water-washed diseases every day .
Vegetables must be washed before eating .
By
Water Wise and the Department of Water Affairs
While access to clean drinking water , proper personal hygiene , and adequate sanitation infrastructure are the best ways to prevent these diseases , there are other ways to avoid them .
WATERBORNE DISEASES Waterborne diseases are transmitted through untreated drinking water .
• Cholera Cholera is contracted by ingesting water or food that has been contaminated by a strain of the bacterium , Vibrio cholera . Water becomes contaminated when it comes into contact with the excrement of infected individuals . The disease is characterised by a sudden and substantial loss of body fluids through diarrhoea and vomiting , causing dehydration . When cholera goes untreated , it can be fatal within six hours , depending on the level of dehydration . In order to treat cholera , the patient must be rehydrated , orally or intravenously , as soon as possible .
• Campylobacteriosis Campylobacteriosis is caused by the bacterium Campylobactor jejuni and is transmitted predominantly via the faecal-oral route . However , animals such as cows and chickens are often reservoirs of the bacterium , and therefore , proper hygiene is essential when preparing meals with poultry and beef . The disease is characterised by diarrhoea ( which may be bloody ), abdominal pains , fever and , in severe cases , vomiting and convulsions . Patients should be treated with fluid and salt replacements .
Prevention of waterborne diseases
• Disinfect untreated water by adding one teaspoon of domestic bleach to every 20 litres of water . Let the water sit for at least three minutes before ingesting it . If the untreated water is cloudy , add two or three extra teaspoons of domestic bleach .
• Always use clean drinking containers .
WATER-WASHED DISEASES These types of diseases occur as a result of poor hygiene .
• Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis is contracted by ingesting contaminated food or water and is spread via the faecal-oral route as a result of poor hygiene practices . It is characterised by sudden vomiting and diarrhoea , often accompanied by fever and stomach cramps . Healthy adults generally recover within a few days if they replace the water and salts they have lost . However , the disease can be fatal as a result of rapid dehydration , especially for infants , the elderly , and for those infected with HIV .
• Typhoid Typhoid is caused by Salmonella typhi , transmitted via the faecal-oral route , and is characterised by an initial headache , followed by fever and abdominal pain , and finally , by bronchitis . Weight loss and a loss of appetite can also occur . Antibiotics are necessary soon after infection to prevent life-threatening complications , and bed rest is crucial .
• Amoebic dysentery Amoebic dysentery is caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica when it is transmitted via the faecal-oral route . A common source of infection is raw fruit or vegetables that have been irrigated with contaminated water . Most often , the infection presents without symptoms . However , when symptoms are present , they include diarrhoea ( which is often bloody ), a tender abdomen , nausea , and weight loss . If intestinal perforation occurs , it can be life-threatening . The disease should be treated with antiparasitic medication and when complications occur , surgery .
September 2018 Volume 24 I Number 7 www . plumbingafrica . co . za