Types of Waterborne Diseases

There are many types of waterborne diseases. Some of the most common are cholera, typhus, and dysentery. Learn more about them.

Written and verified by the doctor Leonardo Biolatto.

Last update: 27 May, 2022

In this world we live in, it’s very difficult for us to imagine that there are places where you can’t get water at the turn of a tap. And, even worse, we tend to forget about the numerous types of waterborne diseases that are transmitted due to poor water quality.

Unfortunately, although we may be unaware of this, about 250,000 people or more die each year due to waterborne diseases. That’s because almost 30% of the world’s population can’t access safe, quality water. 

We often talk about clean water shortages and dehydration in places like Africa. However, we tend to forget that this same problem also has indirect consequences, such as infections from contaminated water. 

Therefore, in this article, we’ll tell you about the most relevant types of waterborne illnesses. It’s important to be aware of these illnesses so that we can make more efficient use of our water, and do better at conserving it. 

What are waterborne diseases?

The presence of microorganisms in these waters causes these illnesses. This, added to the fact that this often occurs in places with insufficient healthcare, ends up being fatal for a large number of people. 

The most common water-related illness is diarrhea. Acute diarrhea can be caused by a large variety of microorganisms. The problem in these cases is that, through our stools, we lose even more fluids and electrolytes. 

Diarrhea is more serious in children. That’s because it often causes dehydration, which can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. The good news is that we currently have sachets filled with the necessary electrolytes to rehydrate people suffering from this condition. And, they’re trying to distribute them throughout the neediest countries.

Another well-known type of waterborne illness is cholera. This is an infection caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, which has sparked destructive epidemics throughout history. This disease involves severe diarrhea and vomiting. In addition, it can also lead to dehydration and death.

Other types of waterborne diseases

Malaria is a disease that’s transmitted through mosquito bites. However, some people also consider it to be a waterborne illness. That’s because this type of mosquito only lives in areas with stagnant, low-quality water. 

In addition, dysentery is another condition associated with contaminated water. This illness causes very aggressive diarrhea, and it mostly affects children. Also, typhus and typhoid fever are very similar. Ingesting contaminated water can cause all of them.

Diseases caused by contact with water

Although we tend to only associate these types of illnesses with drinking contaminated water, there’s actually more to it than that. For example, swimming in lakes or rivers with some microorganisms, can cause certain illnesses, like schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is an infection from parasites that enter the body through our skin. It’s common in areas where people bathe themselves, in places like lakes or ponds. The same also happens with trachoma, which is an eye infection from contact with this type of water.

In addition, diseases can come from eating foods that were grown with low-quality water. In fact, it’s very common for certain vegetables that have been watered with fecal water to poison people.

Conclusion

There are countless types of waterborne diseases. The biggest problem is that, to this day, we don’t know the severity of the consequences of this global problem. Therefore, it’s very important to be aware of this issue. 
We need to make responsible and efficient use of our water. In addition, we have to be careful when traveling to areas where water conditions aren’t as good as they are at home.