It may sound strange to say that infections can be both caused and cured by water, but it is the truth. In order to understand this we need to understand what infections can be caused by water and why this is so.
Infections & Diseases Caused by Water
There are several diseases and health conditions that can be caused by water; either by drinking the water or by using the water for personal hygiene. Although these diseases or infections are not that common in first world countries, they can happen anywhere under the right conditions:
Kidney Infections
Kidney infections are generally caused by a bladder or urinary tract infection that has not been cured and has worked its way up to the kidneys. The best way to cure a kidney infection is to drink plenty of water in order to flush the bacteria out of the bladder and clean out the kidney at the same time.
Diarrhoea
The most common infection that can be and is caused by water in many countries all over the world is diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is one of the most prolific health problems that is directly linked to water and sanitation, and is a leading cause of death in developing countries, with approximately 4 BILLION cases per year, out of which 1.8 million (of which 1.6 million are children under five) will end in death. Children who repeatedly get diarrhoea are far more susceptible to malnutrition and other diseases.
Diarrhoea is caused by various micro-organisms including bacteria, viruses and protozoans. It results in the individual losing both water and electrolytes, which means that they become dehydrated, and if not treated and rehydrated in time, they could die.
Excreta is the main cause of childhood diarrhoeal diseases. Diarrhoeal disease could be cut by one third by the simple act of washing one’s hands with soap and water, and this is the key to preventing waterborne diseases, next to providing adequate sanitation facilities.
Fungal Infections
Fungal infections such as athlete’s foot are often caused by moist environments (sweaty trainers), but can also be cured using water. Soaking your feet in water can reduce swelling and itching.
Arsenicosis
Arsenicosis is a condition that is caused by prolonged exposure to low concentrations of arsenic in the drinking water. It causes painful hardened lesions on the skin and can also result in cancer of the lungs, skin, kidney and bladder.
Many individuals who contract arsenic poisoning do so because they do not have access to pure drinking water or are unaware of the risks. Drinking pure filtered drinking water will flush the arsenic out of their systems and bring the potential danger of arsenic poisoning down to zero.
Cholera
Most of us have heard about cholera, but always think that it only happens in backward, wild countries and that we will never get it. Cholera is an acute bacterial infection caused by unsafe drinking water, bad sanitation and bad hygiene behaviour, including food hygiene.
Cholera causes severe bouts of diarrhoea that will lead to dehydration and even death if the person does not rehydrate with fresh non-toxic drinking water.
Trachoma
Trachoma is an eye infection that can cause one to go blind if not treated. It is caused by unsafe environmental sanitation conditions and a lack of adequate water supplies. More women are affected than men, and children are particularly susceptible. Providing adequate water supplies would reduce the infection rates by around 25% according to studies that have been done.
Drinking water is important, as is water for personal hygiene and food preparation, but only if that water is potable. Water that is not hygienic is the cause of many illnesses and deaths worldwide every day, and yet filtered, pure drinking is the source of life for billions more every day.
Make sure that you stay healthy by drinking water that is free of toxins. This you can do by drinking only water that has been filtered thoroughly. In order to ensure that the water you and your family use for drinking water is free of any toxins, invest in a point of use POU water cooler or a bottled water cooler. You can also put in a whole house reverse osmosis filtration system that will ensure that even your personal hygiene and food preparation water is 100% pure.
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