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