Contaminated water affects more people than you'd think. London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says that patients often come to her complaining of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and it turns out they have picked up a parasite or bug from contaminated water.
Here are some of the most commons nasty things found in water.
Giardia normally produces a mild bowel infection, with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, malaise, and poor appetite, its effects can be much worse in developing countries. Where people have nutrient-poor diets it can become chronic, suppressing adequate calorie intake and leading to weight loss, and in some cases death.
Rotavirus causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting and is estimated to kill around 600,000 children under five every year in developing countries. It is highly infectious and spreads when children are exposed to contaminated water, food or faecal matter.
Bilharzia Around 200 million people worldwide are affected with bilharzia. This parasitic worm penetrates the skin and travels to the blood vessels of the liver, intestine and bladder where they mature. Fever, malaise, nausea and diarrhoea follow with liver failure, neurological problems and even death in the advanced stages if left untreated.
Guinea worm eggs are ingested in polluted water. The worm then grows internally until it eventually ruptures the skin. If the worm is simply pulled out severe skin infections can occur, which can lead to gangrene and even death. Instead the worm has to be gently coaxed out by being wound around a small stick - a process that can take weeks.
More often though in the UK the most common water related illnesses and symptoms are purely from not drinking enough water. Concentration, energy, digestion, skin all relay on correct water balance. Yvonne says "Many of the people suffering from constipation simply need to drink more water and eat more fruit and vegetables rather than expensive drugs"
To help people remember to drink enough water Water Aid have divised this handy desktop programme that reminds you to drink water every few hours. "This is a great idea! Every office computer in London should have it installed immediately!"
Download here - Drink More Water
For more info and laboratory tests please see Optimum Nutritionists London or Water Aid
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