People in the south west of England have been urged to boil their tap water after 22 cases of a diarrhoeal illness were confirmed and hundreds more are being investigated. The warning for South Devon was issued by the UK Health Authority (UKHSA) after a parasite called Cryptosporidium was found in local water systems.
Dr. Alasdair Scott, a gut health specialist at Selphis urging people to look out for warning signs that they may have drunk contaminated water, particularly in the run-up to the summer holidays, as tap water in many other countries tends to be less well treated. Dr Scott said: “The outbreak of parasites in Devon’s water system sounds like something that doesn’t happen often in the UK, particularly in treated water systems, but something like this can happen quite easily. It can be a result of damaged sewerage systems, cesspools, sewage overflows and agricultural runoff.”
To help Brits recognise the signs of contamination after drinking tap water, Dr Scott shares some key insights:
What are the main signs that you have swallowed contaminated water?
“The most common germs that contaminate water include bacteria such as E. coli and parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidia. All of these can cause intestinal symptoms similar to food poisoning.
“Symptoms usually appear within 3 to 10 days of drinking the water and may include stomach pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody), vomiting, fever, and fatigue. Sometimes symptoms may be more subtle and include bloating, mild stomach discomfort, and diarrhea.
How long does the defense last?
“Your body is actually very good at fighting these infections and things usually settle down after 7 to 14 days. Most people don’t need treatment. However, sometimes Cryptosporidium and Giardia can be harder to get rid of and in these cases you may get mild, niggling symptoms like bloating and diarrhea that don’t go away. If symptoms don’t go away, you’ll probably need antimicrobial treatment from your GP to treat the infection.
What are the short- and long-term dangers of swallowing contaminated water?
“In the short term, you can feel quite unwell if you catch a parasitic or bacterial intestinal infection. The biggest danger is dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting, so it is important to maintain fluid intake.
“Over the long term, parasitic infections such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium can become chronic, causing bloating, stomach upset, diarrhea and weight loss. The symptoms can be very subtle and you may just feel unwell without really knowing why.
“Finally, any gut infection affects your gut microbiome and this disruption can lead to a condition called ‘post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome.’ Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome can occur even after your body has overcome the infection or you have been treated for it.”
What should you do if you think you have drunk contaminated water?
“First, you need to look out for the symptoms of an intestinal infection, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting. If you develop these symptoms, it is likely that you have been infected. The best treatment is to make sure you drink plenty of fluids.
“Ideally, you should restore your fluid balance with an isotonic oral rehydration solution such as Dioralyte, which also contains electrolytes to replace fluid loss due to diarrhea.
“If you are unable to drink enough fluids, you should seek medical advice. This is particularly likely in older people or people with co-existing medical problems.
“If you develop intestinal symptoms, take Stool test can be helpful in identifying exactly which pathogen is causing the infection. In some cases, a stool test can also provide information about which antimicrobials are best for treating the infection. In general, intestinal infections resolve on their own within one to two weeks or less. If symptoms do not resolve, you should talk to a doctor.”
For more information on what to do if you drink contaminated water and how to test your stool, see: www.selph.co.uk/tests/comprehensive-gut-parasite-worm-and-bacteria-test
