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The consumption of untreated water, also called raw water, can give rise to symptoms and some diseases, such as leptospirosis, cholera, hepatitis A and giardiasis, for example, being more frequent in children between 1 and 6 years old, pregnant women and the elderly, due to changes in the immune system, which can be considered a serious public health problem.
These diseases happen because some microorganisms can easily grow in water and, although this is easier to do in polluted rivers and lakes, water from crystalline sources can also be contaminated by some type of bacteria, parasite or virus. In addition, these diseases happen when the water does not undergo cleaning and purification treatments that eliminate the microorganisms that contaminate the water, especially those responsible for causing diseases.
Therefore, it is important that the person pay attention to the water consumed both for drinking and for cleaning and preparing food and, if in doubt as to whether the water is suitable for use, one can use a solution of sodium hypochlorite, for example.
Main diseases caused by contaminated water
Although they are diverse, some of the main diseases that can be caused by standing water or untreated sewage include:
1. Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a disease caused by the family virusPicornavirus and that can be transmitted through contact with water contaminated by the virus. This disease is highly contagious, characterized by inflammation of the liver and, although it is usually mild, in some cases it can evolve seriously and be fatal when left untreated.
Main Symptoms: Symptoms of Hepatitis A usually appear about 4 weeks after contamination by the virus, the main indicative of Hepatitis A being dark urine, light stools, yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes, fever, chills, feeling of weakness, nausea, loss of appetite and fatigue.
How is the Treatment: The treatment for Hepatitis A aims to relieve the symptoms of the disease, and the use of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs may be indicated. In addition, the doctor should recommend rest and drinking plenty of fluids. Learn what to do to recover faster from hepatitis A.
2. Giardiasis
Giardiasis is an infection of the digestive system caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia whose transmission is made through the consumption of food or water contaminated by feces containing cysts of the parasite, being an infectious disease that can be transmitted between people.
Main Symptoms: The main symptoms indicative of giardiasis are abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, nausea, weakness and weight loss.
How is the Treatment: The treatment is done with drugs that fight the parasite, such as Metronidazole or Tinidazole, indicated by the doctor. Fluid consumption throughout the day is also recommended, and in case of severe dehydration due to diarrhea, hydration directly in the vein may be necessary.
3. Amoebiasis or Amoebic Dysentery
Amoebiasis or amoebic dysentery is an infection caused by the protozoanEntamoeba histolytica, which settles in the intestine and prevents the absorption of important nutrients for the body. It is transmitted through the consumption of food or water contaminated by feces containing mature amoebic cysts. Learn more about this disease in what is Amebiasis.
Main Symptoms: Usually, the main symptoms of amebiasis are abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and chills, in addition to feces with blood or mucus, in some cases. In more severe cases, the disease can develop the invasive form, in which other organs such as liver, respiratory tract and even brain are infected.
How is the treatment: In general, antiparasitic remedies such as Secnidazole, Metronidazole or Tinidazole are used to fight amebiasis, however the duration and dose is guided by the doctor according to the severity of the infection.
4. Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by a bacterium present in the urine of sewage rats, or other infected animals such as dogs and cats, which penetrates the body through contact with the excrement of these animals or contaminated water with injured skin or mucous membranes, such as eyes, nose.
Main Symptoms: The main symptoms of leptospirosis are high fever, headache, body pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and chills.
How is the treatment: The treatment for leptospirosis should be guided by the doctor, with the use of antibiotics to fight the bacteria and analgesics to relieve pain and fever. Learn more about what it is and how to prevent leptospirosis.
5. Cholera
Cholera is an intestinal infection caused by the bacteriaVibrio choleraewhich can be contaminating water and food. The production of toxins by this bacterium is responsible for the appearance of symptoms, and it is important that the identification of this bacterium is done as soon as possible in order to avoid complications, such as severe dehydration.
Main Symptoms: Cholera symptoms appear between 2 and 5 days after infection by the bacteria and there is mainly severe diarrhea and vomiting, which can lead to severe dehydration.
How is the Treatment: The treatment for cholera has the main objective of preventing dehydration, so it is recommended to perform oral hydration and, in the most severe cases, directly in the vein, and hospitalization and treatment with antibiotics may also be necessary.
See more about cholera.
6. Ascariasis or roundworm
Ascariasis is a verminosis caused by the parasiteAscaris lumbricoides, also known as roundworm, which inhabits, develops and multiplies in the intestine. This disease is transmitted by eating water or food contaminated with the parasite's eggs.
Main Symptoms: The main symptoms of ascariasis are abdominal pain, nausea, difficulty in evacuating and loss of appetite.
How is the treatment: The treatment is done with the use of antiparasitic drugs indicated by the doctor, such as Albendazole, which must be done according to the medical advice.
7. Typhoid Fever
Typhoid Fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacteriaSalmonella typhi, and its transmission is made through the consumption of water and food contaminated with the parasite.
Main Symptoms: High fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, headache, loss of appetite, weight loss or red spots on the skin may be indicative of typhoid fever. Understand what typhoid fever is and how to identify symptoms.
How is the Treatment: The treatment is done with the use of antibiotics, according to medical advice, being very important rest and hydration during the recovery phase. This is a disease that can be prevented with the typhoid vaccine.
How to prevent diseases
In order to protect and prevent these diseases, contact with sewage, contaminated or untreated water, floods, mud or rivers with standing water should be avoided, and the use of untreated chlorine pools is also discouraged.
To ensure your safety, it is advisable to always boil water before using it, either to wash or prepare food or to drink, if it is not filtered. In addition, you can also choose to use sodium hypochlorite to disinfect and purify water.
How to know if the water is contaminated
It can be suspected that the water is contaminated, and therefore it is unsuitable for consumption, when it has some characteristics such as:
- It looks dirty, cloudy or muddy;
- It has some smell;
- There are small particles of dirt suspended in the water;
- It is not properly transparent, having a yellowish, orange or brownish color.
In addition, the water may also appear to be clean and still be contaminated, so it is always best to opt for filtered water or bottled mineral water, which has been subjected to quality tests.
What to do when oil contaminated water
When in contact with oil or water contaminated by this substance, it is important to wash the area well with soap and water and be aware of the appearance of any respiratory or skin changes that may be related to this exposure, it is important to go to the clinic or to the hospital if symptoms develop. According to the signs and symptoms presented by the person, the general practitioner can indicate the use of corticosteroids and hydration.
Although in most cases the diseases transmitted by the contaminated water are related to the presence of microorganisms, it is also possible to acquire signs and symptoms of diseases when in contact with the oil that may be present in the water, these clinical manifestations being the result of the reaction of the chemical substances in that substance or due to the inhalation of oil vapors. In addition, prolonged exposure can favor the development of more serious diseases, such as leukemia and neurological disorders.
When a person is exposed to oil for a long time, without any type of protection, it is possible that some signs and symptoms may appear, such as burning eyes, itching and red sores or spots on the skin, headache, nausea, vomiting and respiratory changes , such as difficulty breathing, for example.
Therefore, to prevent symptoms from arising and the risk of developing diseases, it is important to use personal protective equipment before coming into contact with oil, such as a disposable mask, goggles, gloves and boots or rubber galoshes. In addition, it is recommended to wear waterproof clothing that covers the legs and arms.
How to purify water for drinking
Hypochlorite to purify water
To make contaminated water good for drinking, a solution called sodium hypochlorite must be used, which is bought in pharmacies and supermarkets, but which is also distributed by the government. Just drop 2 to 4 drops of sodium hypochlorite for every 1 liter of water and wait 30 minutes to be able to consume this water. See more details about sodium hypochlorite.
Boiling the water for 1 minute also helps to purify the water, but it does not solve the problem and therefore does not exclude the use of hypochlorite. In addition, in case of contamination with mercury, water should not be boiled because the mercury can pass into the air, increasing the risk of contamination.
These strategies are especially suitable for purifying waters that are contaminated with viruses, bacteria and fecal coliforms, which can happen in cistern waters, artesian wells, small wells and in case of contamination with rainwater. However, in case of flooding, the best strategy is not to use dirty and muddy water because the mud is more difficult to eliminate.
The water contaminated by the mud, can be used through a process called decantation, which usually happens in water treatment companies in cities. A coagulant that can be used to remove sludge from water is the black wattle polymer, an organic product that does not harm health. This substance can separate the water from the mud, but after this process, the water still needs to be properly treated.
Check out all the homemade methods to purify water at home.