1. WATER-BORNE DISEASES AND ITS PREVENTION
PRESENTED BY:
PROF.VIJAYARADDI VANDALI
MSc (Nursing),PGDHA, PGCDE. MIPHA.
ESIC COLLEGE OF NURSING
KALABURGI, INDIA-585106
MOBILE: +91 9509695123
EMAIL: vijayvandali84@gmail.com

2. INTRODUCTION
• Water is important part of our life, without water there is no life for
living creatures in this world. Even though water is must for industry,
farming, infrastructure etc.
• Water a life-giving liquid can also be a life-taking lethal fluid. Around
3.1% of deaths in the world are due to unhygienic and poor quality of water.
• The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of diseases
worldwide are waterborne.
• Alarmingly, groundwater in one-third of India’s 600 districts is deemed
unfit for drinking – with dangerous levels of fluoride, iron, salinity and
arsenic. About 65 million people suffer from fluorosis, a crippling
disease caused by excess fluoride – a condition commonly found in the
Rajasthan state region, in northern India.

3. Contd…
• A World Resources Report from the Washington DC-based World
Resources Institute labelled a shocking 70 per cent of India’s
water supply as being seriously polluted. The United Nations also
ranked India’s water quality at a horrifying 120th among 122 nations
in the quality of water available for human consumption – 122nd
being the worst.

4. 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.

5. WATER-BORNE DISEASES
• Waterborne diseases are caused by a variety of microorganisms,
bio toxins, and toxic contaminants, which lead to devastating
illnesses such as cholera, schistosomiasis and other gastrointestinal
problems. outbreaks of waterborne diseases often occur after a severe
precipitation event (rainfall, snowfall).
• Climate change increases the severity and frequency of some
major precipitation events, communities—especially in the
developing world—could be faced with elevated disease burden
from waterborne diseases. in addition, diseases caused
by vibrio bacteria such as cholera and other intestinal diseases may
pose a greater threat due to the effect that rising sea temperatures will
have on the growth and spread of bacteria.

6. CONTD…
• Climate change is likely to increase diarrheal disease
incidence worldwide, and extreme weather conditions may
also complicate already-inadequate prevention efforts.
although the united states has prevention and treatment
strategies for waterborne diseases, surveillance is still spotty,
diagnoses are not uniform, and understanding of the impact
of climate change on these diseases is not well established.

7. Image shows: How the water gets polluted

8. Image shows: How the water gets polluted

9. Drinking polluted water : causes diseases

10. Drinking polluted water : causes diseases

11. Playing with polluted water also causes diseases

12. LIST OF WATER-BORNE DISEASES
Water-borne diseases like cholera, gastroenteritis and diarrhoea erupt every
year during summer and rainy seasons in India due to poor quality drinking
water and sanitation. Here is a list of the five most dangerous water-related
diseases that occur in India, which are described as follows:
1) Cholera
• Cholera is a water-related disease, and is diarrheal in nature.
• It can kill in hours if left unattended.
• Cholera strikes when one ingests water that is infested with the Vibrio
Cholerae bacterium.
2) Diarrhoea
• Diarrhoeal infection is spread through food and drinking water that has been
contaminated.
• A diarrhoeal attack can last up to 2 weeks and leave the person completely
dehydrated.

13. Dental fluorosis
• Dental fluorosis is the appearance of faint white lines or streaks on the
teeth that only occurs when younger children consume too
much fluoride, from any source, over long periods when teeth are
developing under the gums. Once teeth break through the gums, you
cannot develop fluorosis.Fluorosis isn’t a disease and doesn’t affect
the health of your teeth. In most cases, the effect is so subtle that only
a dentist would notice it during an examination. The type of fluorosis
found in the United States has no effect on tooth function and may
make the teeth more resistant to decay.

14. State wise number of habitations affected by fluoride
contamination in drinking water
• (As on 13 September 2020)
• Rajasthan
• Bihar
• Madhya Pradesh
• Tamil Nadu
• Punjab
• Karnataka
• West Bengal
• Chhattisgarh
• Andhra Pradesh
• Jharkhand
• Uttar Pradesh
• Odisha
• Assam
• Haryana
• Maharashtra
• KeralaJammu and Kashmir

15. FLUOROSIS IN INDIA GRAPH 2020

16. Cholera
Interventions/Treatment
• To prevent the spread of cholera, the following four interventions are
essential:
• Provision of adequate safe drinking-water
• Proper personal hygiene
• Proper food hygiene
• Hygienic disposal of human excreta.
• Treatment of cholera consists mainly in replacement of lost fluids and salts.
The use of oral rehydration salts (ORS) is the quickest and most efficient
way of doing this. Most people recover in 3 to 6 days. If the infected person
becomes severely dehydrated, intravenous fluids can be given. Antibiotics
are not necessary to successfully treat a cholera patient.

17. Diarrhoea
Prevention and treatment
• Key measures to prevent diarrhoea include:
• access to safe drinking-water;
• use of improved sanitation;
• hand washing with soap;
• exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life;
• good personal and food hygiene;
• health education about how infections spread; and
• rotavirus vaccination.

18. Contd..
• Key measures to treat Diarrhoea include the following:
• Rehydration: with oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution. ORS is a mixture of clean
water, salt and sugar. It costs a few cents per treatment. ORS is absorbed in the
small intestine and replaces the water and electrolytes lost in the faeces.
• Zinc supplements: zinc supplements reduce the duration of a diarrhoea episode by
25% and are associated with a 30% reduction in stool volume.
• Rehydration: with intravenous fluids in case of severe dehydration or shock.
• Nutrient-rich foods: the vicious circle of malnutrition and diarrhoea can be broken
by continuing to give nutrient-rich foods – including breast milk – during an
episode, and by giving a nutritious diet – including exclusive breastfeeding for the
first six months of life – to children when they are well.
• Consulting a health professional , in particular for management of persistent
diarrhoea or when there is blood in stool or if there are signs of dehydration.

19. HEPATITIS
Interventions
• As there are no specific antiviral drugs against hepatitis A and E,
prevention of these viral diseases remains the most important weapon
for their control, such as:
• Providing education on good sanitation and personal hygiene,
especially hand-washing
• Adequate and clean water supplies and proper waste disposal
• Vaccination against hepatitis A for persons at risk, e.g. travellers
visiting areas where the disease is common.

21. CONTD…
3) Malaria
• Malarial fever is spread by the Plasmodium parasite mosquito that breeds in water
bodies like lakes, paddy fish and stagnant water.
• Malaria can kill a child who does not have the immunity against the disease.
4) Typhoid
• Fluctuating high fever, exhaustion, sleepiness, Diarrhoea etc. are signs of
typhoid.
• The infection spreads through contaminated food and water or through close
contact with an infected person.
5) Filariasis
• Filariasis is a parasitic disease and affects people who live near unsanitary water
bodies or sewages.
• Filariasis is spread by mosquitoes that breeds in fresh and stagnant water bodies
and is the host of the filarial nematode worm. This worm affects humans and leads
to elephantitis.

22. THREE YEAR DATA OF WATER BORNE DISEASES IN
GUJARAT

23. Typhoid Fever
Although rare in industrialized countries, typhoid fever is well-known in extremely poor parts of developing
nations; it’s estimated that up to 20 million people worldwide suffer from the illness each year. 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.

24. 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.

25. • 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.

26. 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.

27. • 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.
• 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.

28. • 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.

29. Precautions to prevent waterborne disease:
• Ensure the water is visibly clean and free from sand and silt. Filter the water to get
rid of visible dirt.
• Drink only clean and safe water – either portable water or water filtered through
water purifiers.
• Get water purifying devices like filters, RO unit, etc., regularly serviced and
maintained.
• Ensure stored water is germ-free.
• Add antiseptic liquid, such as Dettol in dubious-looking bathing water.
• Hand hygiene – regularly wash hands with soap after returning home, after using
the toilet, before and after preparing food, before eating or drinking anything.

30. • 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.

31. CONTD…
• Teach hand hygiene to children. Children should make it a habit to
always wash hands when returning home after playing games.
• Ensure food is washed and thoroughly cooked.
• Use disposable glass and plates whenever possible when eating
outside food, particularly street food.
• Avoid eating stale cooked food, unrefrigerated food kept exposed
outside for long hours.
• Take vaccinations for immunization against preventable diseases like
Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Polio, etc.

33. Contd…

34. REFERENCES
• https://www.niehs.nih.gov/
• https://en.reset.org/
• https://www.narayanahealth.org/
• https://www.unicef.org/india/topics/water-borne-diseases
• https://www.google.com/search
• https://lifewater.org/blog/7-most-common-waterborne-diseases-and-how-to-
prevent-them/
• https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases-
risks/diseases/diseasefact/en/
• https://www.webmd.com/children/fluorosis-symptoms-causes-treatments#1
• https://www.nhp.gov.in/disease/non-communicable-disease/fluorosis