Many serious infections can result from ingesting contaminated water. Cholera, tularemia, typhoid fever and shigellosis are only a few of the diseases you can be infected with in this manner. These diseases mainly infect the digestive tract, and symptoms vary in severity.
General Information
Water that causes infections usually has been contaminated by the bodily fluids of an infected individual. Water diseases are more common in less-developed countries where sanitation is poor. If water lines are contaminated, it's not uncommon to see widespread infection. Many waterborne infections that are endemic to certain areas don't cause disease in local residents and are pathogenic only to visitors.
Shigellosis
Shigellosis is the most severe type of dysentery, which is an inflammatory infection of the bowels. It's caused by the Shigella dysentarie bacterium, a pathogen that's particularly hazardous because it produces a powerful poison, known as Shiga toxin, that damages the intestines. Patients usually experience fever, abdominal pain and blood in their stools. According to the American Public Health Association, shigellosis is responsible for 600,000 deaths a year worldwide.
Typhoid Fever
Typhoid fever is found worldwide. It's caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi. Individuals become infected after coming into contact with food or water contaminated by an infected individual's feces or urine. Typhoid fever can be prevented with proper sanitation of water and food supplies, and effective vaccines for it have been developed. It also can be treated with a wide range of antibiotics, and it usually isn't fatal.
Cholera
Cholera is a severe intestinal infection caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. Symptoms are severe diarrhea and vomiting, which can quickly cause dehydration. If a water source is infected with this bacterium, a widespread outbreak will result. Cholera outbreaks have been reported worldwide, but now the disease is mainly confined to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Tularemia
Francisella tularensis is the cause of tularemia. Tularemia is a dangerous infectious disease that causes skin ulcers, swollen and painful lymph glands, chills and fatigue. Tularemia can be infect humans through arthropod bites as well as through the ingestion of contaminated water. Tularemia is treatable with antibiotics but can be fatal if left untreated.
References
- "Control of Communicable Diseases Manual 18th Edition"; David L. Heymann; 2004
- "Preventive and Social Medicine"; K. Park; 1995
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 16th Edition"; Lawrence Madoff, James Macguire, et. al.; 2005
- MayoClinic.com: Tularemia
