Water Supply and Sanitary

Assignment
On
Waterborne Diseases and its Prevention
Submitted To:
Sir Ahmad Saeed
Department: Civil Technology

Submitted By:
Raheel Afzaal
Roll No. 25
Bs Tech. Semester: 7th

Waterborne Diseases
Waterborne diseases are caused by drinking
contaminated or dirty water. Contaminated
water can cause many types of diarrheal
diseases, including Cholera, and other serious
illnesses such as Guinea worm disease,
Typhoid, and Dysentery. Water related
diseases cause 3.4 million deaths each year.
Life Straw water filters remove the bacteria
and pathogens that contaminate water to
decrease the incidence of waterborne
diseases.

Cholera

Cholera is a diarrheal disease caused by a

bacterial infection of the small intestine.

Prevention
Cholera can be prevented by providing clean
water and improved sanitation, as well as by
educating populations about safe water and
proper hygiene practices.

Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium enteritis is a parasitic

infection of the small intestine. This infection
is caused by drinking contaminated water and
is most common in people with comprised
immune systems, such as young children and
people living with HIV/AIDS.

Prevention
Cryptosporidium enteritis can be prevented
through the provision of safe drinking water1.

Cylcosporiasis

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal parasitic

disease caused by drinking contaminated
water.

Prevention

The best way to prevent against

cyclosporiasis is through the provision of
clean water and improved sanitation.

Diarrheal Disease

Diarrhea is defined as the passage of three or

more loose or liquid stools per day (or more
frequent passage than is normal for the
individual). Frequent passing of formed stools
is not diarrhea, nor is the passing of loose,
"pasty" stools by breastfed babies. Diarrhea is
usually a symptom of an infection in the
intestinal tract, which can be caused by a
variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic
organisms. Infection is spread through
contaminated food or drinking-water, or from
person-to-person as a result of poor hygiene

Diarrhea that lasts several days can leave the

body without the water and salts that are
necessary for survival. Most people who die
from diarrhea actually die from severe
dehydration and fluid loss.

Prevention
Key measures to prevent diarrhea include:
access to safe drinking-water
improved sanitation
exclusive breastfeeding for the first six
months of life
good personal and food hygiene
health education about how infections
spread
rotavirus vaccination

Dysentery

Amoebic and bacillary dysentery are both

infections of the intestine that cause diarrhea.
Amoebic dysentery is caused by amoebas
found in contaminated food or drink, while
bacillary dysentery is caused by bacteria
found in contaminated food or drink1.

Prevention
The best way to prevent against amoebic and
bacillary dysentery is through the provision of
clean water and improved sanitation.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the

intestinal lining caused by a virus, bacteria, or
parasites. This disease is spread through
contaminated food or water.

Prevention
The most common problem associated with
gastroenteritis is dehydration1. The best way
to treat against gastroenteritis is through the
provision of clean water and improved
sanitation services.

Giardiasis

Giardiasis is a parasitic diarrheal illness

caused by drinking contaminated water.

Prevention
Giardiasis can be prevented by the provision
of clean water and improved sanitation
services.

Guinea Worm

Guinea worm is a disease caused by a

parasite found in unsafe drinking water that
enters a persons body.

Prevention
There is no vaccination or treatment for
Guinea worm, yet much work has been done
to prevent Guinea worm through education
and
safe
drinking
water.
The Carter
Center has been the leading organization in
the fight against Guinea worm. They have
contributed greatly to the decrease in cases
of Guinea worm primarily through water
filtration with the help of the Life Straw for
Guinea Worm filters.

Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is a virus caused by drinking

contaminated water.

Prevention
There is no known treatment for hepatitis E,
but the disease can be prevented through the
provision of safe drinking water and improved
sanitation.
Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that is

most commonly spread through contaminated
water.

Prevention
Typhoid fever can be prevented through the
provision of safe drinking water.

Polio
Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal
infectious disease. There is no cure, but there
are safe and effective vaccines. The strategy
to eradicate polio is therefore based on
preventing infection by immunizing every
child until transmission stops and the world is
polio-free.

Prevention
There is no cure for polio, only treatment to
alleviate the symptoms. Heat and physical
therapy is used to stimulate the muscles and
antispasmodic drugs are given to relax the
muscles. While this can improve mobility, it
cannot reverse permanent polio paralysis.