Summary Of Water-related Diseases

Disease

Symptoms

Prevention is better than cure

Bilharzia

Itchy rash, headaches, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever, bladder infections, liver infection and swollen veins

Do not defecate or urinate in water, drink only treated water

Malaria

Fever, headache, diarrhoea,, nausea, joint+muscle pains, sweating and fatigue

Try to prevent being bitten, apply repellent, sleep with a net over the body, get rid of stagnant water

Cholera

Diarrhoea, vomiting,

Wash hands after using toilet, do not use human faeces as fertilizer

Typhoid fever

Headache, fever, abdominal pain, constipation, bronchitis

Don’t drink untreated water, proper personal hygiene and sanitation is key, wash and peel fruit and vegetables before eating

Gastroenteritis

Fever, stomach cramps, vomiting, watery diarrhoea

Never drink untreated water, always use clean drinking water containers

Water related diseases may be in one or more of four categories:

1) Waterborne=transmitted through drinking water (cholera, typhoid)
2) Water-washed=transmission will be interrupted through proper sanitation, washing and hygiene (gastroenteritis)
3) Water based=transmitted by contact with water, like recreational swimming (bilharzia)
4) Water Vector=transmitted by a vector (carrier) of disease(malaria)