What Are Water and Foodborne Diseases? Symptoms and Treatments

Waterborne diseases are illnesses that typically affect the stomach and intestinal tract, caused by consuming unclean water or eating food washed in such water. Worldwide, at least 200 million people contract water and foodborne diseases each year, which can lead to serious health issues. Especially surging during the hot summer months in Türkiye, these infections enter our bodies through microorganisms in the water, manifesting with symptoms like microbial diarrhea, vomiting, and high fever. Taking early precautions against these conditions, which rapidly disrupt the body's water and mineral balance, is the most fundamental step in protecting your health.

• About 20 percent of the global population uses unsafe drinking water.
• Every year, millions of people suffer from severe infections due to the harms of contaminated water.
• Diseases are usually transmitted by ingesting water contaminated with feces.
• The most common symptoms are severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and high fever.
• Personal hygiene, regular handwashing, and consuming safe food are the most effective prevention methods.

What Are Waterborne Diseases?

Waterborne diseases are infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites that enter the human body through drinking or utility water. Since a large part of the human body consists of water, the quality of the fluids we consume directly affects our overall health. Inadequate infrastructure, environmental pollution, and poor hygiene practices are the main factors in the spread of these diseases. This situation not only threatens individual health but can also pave the way for large-scale outbreaks. Among the most frequently encountered water and foodborne diseases are typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, and hepatitis A.

Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is a serious infection caused by the Salmonella typhi bacterium, transmitted through contaminated drinking water and poorly washed food. The illness usually begins with a high fever, severe headache, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and noticeable fatigue. In the following days, pink rashes may appear on the chest and abdomen. If left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening conditions such as intestinal bleeding. With early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment under a doctor's supervision, the vast majority of patients recover completely.

Dysentery

Dysentery is a disease characterized by inflammation of the intestines, especially the colon. Caused by parasites called amoebas or various bacteria, this infection manifests with bloody and mucous diarrhea, severe abdominal cramps, fever, and a constant urge to use the toilet. Consuming contaminated water or eating raw vegetables washed with this water is the most common route of transmission. Since it causes a rapid loss of fluids and salts in the body, it is necessary to seek medical support without losing time and to replace the lost fluids.

Cholera

Cholera is a disease that causes very rapid and severe fluid loss, emerging when the Vibrio cholerae bacterium settles in the intestines. Painless diarrhea resembling rice water and projectile vomiting, which can develop within hours, are the most prominent signs of cholera. The disease has the potential to quickly turn into epidemics in regions with limited access to safe water sources. Urgently replacing lost fluids and vital minerals intravenously or orally is the most critical and life-saving step of the treatment.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Unlike other types of hepatitis, it rarely becomes chronic, but it can leave a person weak enough to be bedridden for weeks. It is transmitted by consuming water and food contaminated with virus-carrying feces. Yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin, dark urine, pale-colored stools, extreme fatigue, and nausea are the most common symptoms. Routine vaccination during childhood is the most reliable way to protect against this disease.

How Are Water and Foodborne Diseases Transmitted?

The primary transmission route of such diseases is what medical terminology calls the fecal-oral route, meaning feces-contaminated substances are taken into the body through the mouth. Microbes in the stool or urine of sick individuals spread into nature when sewage leaks into drinking or irrigation water. Fruits and vegetables irrigated with unclean water, undercooked animal products, and unchlorinated drinking water of unknown origin carry great risks. Additionally, accidentally swallowing pool or sea water while swimming can sometimes pave the way for these infections to enter the body.

Especially during the summer months, as temperatures rise, microorganisms in the water find the opportunity to multiply much faster. Food sold openly on the streets, items not stored at the proper temperature, and carriers like flies and insects landing on food multiply the risk of transmission. Furthermore, a lack of adequate personal hand hygiene causes microbes to pass from door handles, shared items, or directly from dirty hands to food. Cross-contamination mistakes in the kitchen, such as chopping salad ingredients on a board previously used to cut raw meat, are also common causes of domestic infections.

What Are the Symptoms of the Diseases?

Waterborne diseases usually settle in the digestive system, causing inflammation and dysfunction there. The incubation period can vary from a few hours to a few weeks, depending on the type of microbe ingested, the person's immune system, and the amount of microbe taken in. In the early stages of the disease, mild stomach discomfort, loss of appetite, stomach rumbling, and general fatigue are usually felt. However, as the microorganisms multiply in the intestines, the symptoms become much more pronounced and uncomfortable.

Microbial diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms. Diarrhea is the body's attempt to rapidly expel harmful agents, but it also leads to dangerous levels of fluid loss. This can be accompanied by severe nausea, vomiting, cramp-like stomach pains, chills, shivering, and high fever. In some cases, blood or mucus may be seen in the stool. In advanced stages, serious signs of dehydration emerge due to excessive fluid loss, such as dry mouth, sunken eyes, decreased urine output, low blood pressure, and confusion. These symptoms are a clear sign that the body needs immediate medical intervention.

Ways to Prevent the Diseases

Protecting yourself from the harms of contaminated water and foodborne infections is possible with simple yet highly effective precautions taken in daily life. The hygiene, food storage, and water consumption rules particularly emphasized by experts should become a habit. By paying attention to the following steps, you can protect yourself and your family from these diseases:

• Wash your hands with plenty of soap and water for at least twenty seconds before preparing food, after using the toilet, and when you come in from outside.
• Avoid drinking unchlorinated water, water sold openly, or water from an unsure source; in suspicious cases, boil the water for at least one minute before consuming.
• Thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits to be consumed raw with plenty of clean water; in risky situations, soak them in vinegar water or peel them.
• Prepare highly perishable foods like red meat, chicken, fish, and dairy products at appropriate temperatures so that their insides are completely cooked.
• Do not leave cooked food at room temperature for more than two hours, and use closed containers when storing them in the refrigerator to prevent contact with raw foods.
• Frequently wash the cutting boards, knives, and cleaning cloths you use in the kitchen with hot water and detergent; use separate cutting boards for raw meat and vegetables.
• Be extremely selective when consuming ice cream, iced drinks, or street foods sold openly and exposed to the sun, especially during the summer.

Diagnosis and Treatment Methods

When you visit the hospital, your doctor will first ask when your complaints started, your travel history, and any suspicious foods you have consumed. Then, during the physical examination, your blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature are measured to determine the degree of fluid loss (dehydration). A stool test is usually requested for a definitive diagnosis. Through stool microscopy and culture, the specific bacteria, virus, or parasite causing the disease is identified. When necessary, blood tests are performed to check the level of infection in the body, electrolyte balance, and kidney functions in detail.

The cornerstone of treatment is rapidly replacing the fluid and electrolytes (sodium, potassium) lost through diarrhea and vomiting. In mild cases, drinking plenty of fluids orally and following special diarrhea diets consisting of fat-free, non-spicy foods are sufficient. However, in severe cases, intravenous serum treatment in the hospital is mandatory. If the infection is of bacterial or parasitic origin, your doctor may prescribe appropriate antibiotics or antiparasitic drugs based on the laboratory results. Antibiotics have no effect on viral diseases; treatment is entirely aimed at alleviating symptoms and supporting the body's immune system.

Complications and Risk Groups

The greatest danger of water and foodborne diseases is the severe loss of fluid and minerals they cause in the body. Sodium and potassium lost through diarrhea can rapidly disrupt the body's metabolic balance. Babies, young children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses are much more vulnerable to these infections. In babies, a decrease in intracellular fluid can create a life-threatening situation within hours. Being aware of the increased need for fluids, especially during the summer months, and dehydration prevention plays a major role in preventing these complications.

In cases that are not treated promptly and correctly, severe conditions such as acute kidney failure, intestinal perforation, liver damage, and circulatory shock can develop. Especially in pregnant women, high fever and excessive fluid loss can increase the risk of premature birth or miscarriage. Maintaining the body's water and salt balance is critical for cells to continue their normal functions. Therefore, it is essential for people in risk groups to be closely monitored by a healthcare professional from the moment the symptoms of the disease begin.

When Should You See a Doctor?

Mild food poisoning or simple diarrhea cases usually resolve within a few days with rest and dietary measures taken at home. However, some symptoms indicate that the condition is worsening and home treatment will be insufficient. If you experience one or more of the following situations, you should apply to a healthcare institution or call 112 for emergency medical help without wasting time:

• If diarrhea lasts continuously for more than three days or if there are more than six watery bowel movements a day,
• If fresh blood, mucus, or a tar-like black color is noticed in the stool,
• If there are unbearably severe abdominal cramps and a high fever exceeding 39 degrees Celsius that cannot be brought down,
• If there is extreme dryness in the mouth, no tears when crying, inability to urinate, or very dark-colored urine,
• If no fluids or food, including water, can be taken orally due to continuous vomiting,
• If confusion, excessive sleepiness, severe dizziness when standing up, or a feeling of fainting is experienced.

Diagnosis and Treatment Process at BHT CLINIC

At BHT CLINIC İstanbul Tema Hastanesi, the diagnosis and treatment of water and foodborne diseases are meticulously carried out with up-to-date medical approaches. When it comes to severe infections and metabolic imbalances due to fluid loss, our Endocrinology and Metabolism department is involved in the process, alongside our Infectious Diseases specialists, to restore the body's disrupted mineral, salt, and hormone balance. Thanks to our multidisciplinary approach, the overall health status of our patients is evaluated as a whole.

The 24/7 emergency department of our hospital is fully equipped to instantly intervene in cases of sudden severe diarrhea, unstoppable vomiting, and dangerous fluid loss. In our advanced laboratories, your stool and blood tests are concluded as soon as possible, and a personalized treatment plan targeting the source of the disease is created. If needed, inpatient serum treatment in our comfortable patient rooms and close monitoring by our expert nursing staff are offered. To avoid risking your health and to get support from our specialist doctors, you can book an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you drink contaminated water?

When contaminated water is drunk, harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites in the water reach the digestive system, causing stomach and intestinal infections. This situation usually manifests with symptoms such as severe diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and fever within a few hours to a few days.

How do you recover from waterborne diarrhea?

The most important step in the treatment of waterborne diarrhea is to rapidly replace the lost fluid and minerals by drinking plenty of clean water, ayran (a traditional Turkish yogurt drink), or special rehydration fluids. Fat-free and non-spicy foods, such as bananas, boiled potatoes, and rice porridge, should be consumed; if complaints last longer than three days, a doctor must be consulted.

How can you tell if drinking water is clean?

Water being clear, odorless, and colorless does not always mean it is clean because the microorganisms causing the disease are invisible to the naked eye. The most reliable method is for the water to be regularly analyzed in a laboratory environment by authorized institutions and to be properly chlorinated.

How can we protect babies from waterborne diseases?

The most effective way to protect babies is to feed them only breast milk for the first six months; breast milk strengthens the baby's immunity and reduces the risk of infection to nearly zero. When transitioning to solid foods, boiled and cooled safe water must be used in the preparation of formulas and meals.

Does washing vegetables and fruits completely destroy microbes?

Scrubbing vegetables and fruits with plenty of clean water removes most of the dirt and microbes on the surface but does not completely sterilize them. In risky situations or during epidemic periods, soaking them in vinegar water or peeling them before consumption provides extra and strong protection.

This article is for informational purposes only; please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.