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Water borne diseases are any illnesses caused by drinking contaminated
water. Diseases can include infection from bacteria (Salmonella),
viruses, or by small parasites (Cryptosporida, Giardia,
and Toxoplasma). These organisms and viruses cause diseases like
cholera, typhoid fever, malaria, botulism, polio, dysentery, giardia,
and hepatitis A. One of the first symptoms of these diseases is diarrhea,
which cause about three million deaths throughout the world, mainly in
India, Africa, and South America.
Sewage is sometimes discharged into rivers, where children downstream
might be taking a bath or using the water to drink. The simplest
treatment method is boiling. Just bring the water to a boil for at least
one minute, then allow it to cool. But this is not always effective in
heavily chemical polluted water supplies.
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Children with Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis worms, parasite in water
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