Mumbai: While the absence of adequate minerals in drinking water
at public places may not be cause for worry, the presence of
coliforms—an indicator of the amount of faecal matter in
water—in such large concentrations poses a health risk.
According to Dr A G Ballani, consultant physician with
Lilavati Hospital in Bandra, coliforms are found in human and
animal intestines, and are excreted. “Coliforms are of two
types: commensal (normally occurring) and diseased (harmful).
While potable water is supposed to contain a permissible amount
of coliform, anything exceeding that poses a threat. Consumption
of contaminated water can cause diseases like gastroenteritis,
which includes diarrhoea and vomiting, and typhoid,’’ he said.
While the adverse health effect of the bacteria E.coli
or Escherichia Coli is known to the public, the health hazards
of other types of coliform cannot be ignored, say doctors.
“There are various forms of coliform which when mixed with
drinking water may affect the liver and intestine,’’ said Dr
Sunita Kshirsagar, a Mumbai-based, general practitioner.
The findings of the study conducted by the students of
the Indian Education Society Management College and Research
Centre could not have come at a worse time. With the onset of
monsoon, city doctors and civic hospitals have observed a rise
in the number of patients falling prey to monsoon related
diseases. According to the data collected by the health
department of the BMC, city hospitals have recorded a total of
687 gastroenteritis
cases in the first half of this month.
Apart from gastroenteritis, there is also a rise in
hepatitis cases. “We are treating almost 10 patients every week
for infections contracted through the faecal-oral route, which
suggests that the person has consumed contaminated food or
water,’’ said Dr Ballani.
“Even if the drinking water supplied by the BMC is
safe, it doesn’t mean that it may not get contaminated while
being transported. Filtering water is not enough. People should
boil it first,’’ said Dr Vimal Pahuja from Hiranandani Hospital.
Water-Borne Diseases
GASTROENTERITIS
It is an infection or
inflammation of one’s digestive tract Symptoms: Vomiting,
watery diarrhoea, fever Preventive measures: Avoid eating
roadside food
JAUNDICE
Jaundice is not a disease but
rather a sign that can occur in many different diseases. It is
associated with an increase of bilirubin in the blood that can
cause liver disease Symptoms: Yellowness of eyes and
skin, vomiting Preventive measures: Drink boiled water;
keep the liquid levels high in your diet
TYPHOID
Typhoid fever is a bacterial
infection characterised by diarrhoea, systemic disease, and a
rash Symptoms: Fever, general illfeeling, abdominal pain
Preventive measures: Eat well-cooked food