Water related diseases are the most common cause of deaths. The paucity of clean water for domestic use has led to the increase in the number of deaths in both the urban and rural parts of developing economies. Deaths due to water related diseases in India are now increased to the range of nearly 80 percent.
1.) Diarrhea
Diarrhea remains the most prevalent water related disease in India. It mostly affects children under the age of 5and often leads to death, Diarrheal infection is spread through food and drinking water that has been contaminated.
Symptoms of Diarrhea
Symptoms of diarrhea include, severe dizziness, loss of consciousness, dehydration and pale skin, little or no urination and in some case bloody stool.
Diarrhea can spread through multiple viruses that are found in contaminated water. The poorer sections of the society come in daily contact with this water and that is the why the rate of diarrhea is highest amongst them.
Common Causes of Diarrhea
Bacterial infections. Several types of bacteria consumed through contaminated food or water can cause diarrhea.
Viral infections. Many viruses cause diarrhea, including rotavirus, Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and viral hepatitis.
Food intolerances.
Parasites. Parasites can enter the body through food or water and settle in the digestive system.
2.)Cholera
Cholera is a water related disease, and is diarrheal in nature. It can kill a person in hours if left unattended. Cholera strikes when one ingests water that is infested with the Vibrio Cholerae bacterium.
Symptoms of Cholera
Watery bowels and fever in certain cases. In India cholera related deaths are most common in places with shortage of good quality water.
3.)Malaria
Malaria or Malarial fever is spread by the Plasmodium parasite mosquito that breeds in water bodies like lakes and paddy fish. Stagnant water is another favorite breeding ground for these deadly parasites. A malarial infection shows only after a week has passed. Therefore, treating it immediately is a necessity. Malaria is a contagious disease that is caused by Plasmodium, a blood parasite that is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. Most human infections are caused by either Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells.
Symptoms of Malaria
Symptoms include fevers, chills, headaches and vomiting. Sometimes these symptoms are also coupled with anaemia.
4.)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. It leads to blindness, and rapid skin pigmentation and the filarial worms can affects various parts of the body.
