Water-borne ailments on rise

Hospitals and clinics in the city are being flooded with people suffering from various water-borne diseases such as gastroenteritis, jaundice, typhoid, stomach flu etc, owing to large-scale water contamination.

Hospitals and clinics in the city are being flooded with people suffering from various water-borne diseases such as gastroenteritis, jaundice, typhoid, stomach flu etc., owing to large-scale water contamination.

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"Apart from other viral infections, Hepatitis E, which transmits through the fecal-oral route, is common in this season because of contaminated water supply," said Dr Rommel Tickoo, senior consultant, department of internal medicine, Max Hospital.

Water-borne diseases are infectious diseases that spread through contaminated water. A person falls sick after drinking polluted water either directly or when such water is used for cooking, washing or other personal purposes.

Drink only boiled water, doctors say.

"Boil water for two-three minutes or put chlorine tablets in drinking water. Wash hands before eating or cooking and after you cough or sneeze. Maintaining basic hygiene can reduce the infection rate," said Dr SK Acharya, head of department, gastroenterology, Aiims.