9781422276136

contaminated with fecal matter or through poor hygiene practices. The main causative agents of both types of hepatitis are viruses. The viral infection leads to symptoms such as swelling of the liver, dark-colored urine and stools, loss of appetite, and jaundice . The disease can be cured by the use of antibiotics. Typhoid Fever Typhoid fever is a waterborne disease caused by bacteria. After ingestion, the bacteria can easily spread to the intestine, blood stream spleen, liver, and gallbladder. The symptoms of the disease develop after 7 to 21 days of infection, causing severe constipation or diarrhea, fever, red-colored spots on the chest, and enlarged spleen and liver. The disease can be cured by use of intravenous body fluids and antibiotics. Dysentery Dysentery is another common disease that is spread through the consumption of contaminated food and water. It affects a part of the intestine, causing severe diarrhea. The infection can be caused by bacteria or intestinal parasites. Dysentery is also known as “bloody

diarrhea” because the loose, watery stools contain blood. The disease can be cured with proper medication and administration of intravenous fluids.

13