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What Are Water Treatments to Prevent Amoebic Dysentery?

Amoebic dysentery is a very serious disease caused by ingesting human feces in contaminated food or water. The bacteria that cause the illness are cysts with hard shells, which allow them to survive for long periods outside the body and protect them from stomach acid. Symptoms of dysentery include vomiting, frequent diarrhea, abdominal bloating, and bloody stools. Improper water treatment and poor sanitation are the main causes of amoebic dysentery.

  1. Avoid Contaminated Water

    • Avoiding drinking contaminated water is the only way to prevent dysentery. Tap water in countries where water treatment facilities are poor or non-existent can carry the infection, though outbreaks of the disease can also occur in the developed world because of poor sanitation and food handling practices. Even bottled water isn't safe in many developing countries because tap water, unfiltered spring water, and unsterilized bottles may have been used by unscrupulous dealers.

    Use Boiled Water

    • The best way to treat water and kill the cysts that cause amoebic dysentery is to boil it. The water should be boiled for at least 15 minutes before drinking it. Boiled water should also be used to wash your face and brush your teeth, since it is possible to ingest the bacteria. Taking care to keep water out of your mouth while showering will also prevent accidental ingestion of contaminated water. Be sure to wash the lid and outside of the water container with boiled water too. Avoid eating vegetables like lettuce that can't be peeled since it may have been washed in infected water, and take your drinks without ice in case frozen tap water was used.

    Ceramic Filters and Chemical Treatments

    • A ceramic water filter is the next best way to treat contaminated water, although this method isn't 100% safe. The pores in the ceramic filter should be 2 microns or smaller while can block most types of bacteria from getting through, and the filter must be cleaned regularly to remove microbial build-up. Treating water with chemicals like iodine or chlorine is another method of removing harmful bacteria, although there is still a chance amoebic dysentery cysts can survive chemical purification. Filter cloudy water with a cloth before using chemical purifiers. Let the chemical sit in the water at least 30 minutes before using it and up to an hour if the water is very cold. Keep in mind that some people are allergic to iodine, and that pregnant women and women over 50 should not drink water that has been treated with iodine.

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