Question 1: Describe water related infections describing the different categories There are four water related infections

namely, water borne diseases, water washed diseases, water based diseases and water related insect vector diseases. I. Water borne diseases are caused by water that has been contaminated by either human (e.g disposal of human wastes into water courses), animal or chemical waste(e.g agricuctural chemicals, pesticides and industrial wastes). They are caused by microorganisms that are most commonly transmitted in contaminated fresh water. They are mostly protozoan and bacterial. Viruses also cause various other water borne diseases. Examples are; for low infective dosageCholera, Liptospirosis, Typhoid and for High infective dosage- Bacillary dysentery, Ascariasis, Hepatitis (infectious). Measures that can be taken are to improve water quality and improving public sanitation. Water scarce or water washed diseases thrive in conditions where freshwater is scarce and sanitation is poor. Examples are for skin and eye infections-Trachoma, Scabies, Leprosy and others are-Louse borne, flea, louse, tick and mite borne typhus. Measures that can be taken are improving the water quantity, water accessibility and improving hygiene Water-based diseases are caused by aquatic organisms that spend part of their life cycle in the water and another part as parasite of animals. Stagnant water behind dams and other water channels are ideal for snails. Therefore lack of sanitation and clean water supply promote outbreaks of water based diseases. Examples are of those that penetrate through the skinSchistosomiasis and those that are Ingested- Guinea worm, clonorchiasis. The measures that can be taken are to decrease need for water contact, control snail population (this may be through the building of fast flowing streams that will make it difficult for snails to survive), improving water quality, and improving surface water management. In areas where guinea worm is endemic, people may also use pieces of cloth to filter water.

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Water related insect vector diseases are transmitted by vectors-insects or other animals.They are caused by the lack of water management which result in pools of stagnant water. These promote mosquito breeding. Example are; in biting near water- Sleeping sickness, Trypanosomiasis and those that are breeding in water-Malaria, yellow fever, Dengue. The measures that can be taken are to destroy breeding sites of insects and to decrease need to visit breeding sites. Using bed nets, introducing natural predators and using polystyrene spheres floating static water which leave the mosquitoes to die from the lack of air. Also covering water storage containers and using sprinkler irrigation instead of canals help in the prevention.