Enjoying the lakes and rivers in the Brazos basin is a popular draw for
people looking for a little outdoor exercise. It is important to understand that there are
risks associated with recreational contact with surface water.
There are simple precautions you can take to greatly reduce your chances of
coming in contact with waterborne illness. Below are details about some of the more significant
water-related diseases, as well as tips to help decrease the likelihood of getting sick:
- Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)
- E. coli
A rare disease caused by an amoeba is common in all untreated surface water.
For most, coming in contact with the amoeba is harmless. In rare instances, it may be fatal.
Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba present in all fresh surface water and soil,
thrives in low levels of fresh water that is warmer than 80 degrees Fahrenheit and is stagnant
or slow-moving. When water containing the organism is forced into the nasal passages - usually from
diving or jumping into water, or from water skiing and similar activities, the amoeba
can cause a condition called Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis or PAM.
The PAM infection occurs when the amoeba makes its way through the nasal
passage into the brain and spinal cord, destroying brain tissue. Often mistaken for the flu or
encephalitis, symptoms of the infection include severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, nausea,
vomiting, seizures and hallucinations as the condition worsens. There are currently no known treatments
for the infection that is usually fatal. Those infected usually succumb to the disease within a week.
PAM cannot be spread through drinking water or person to person. Swimming pools
and hot tubs that are properly cleaned, maintained and chlorinated are generally safe, as is salt
Although the number of confirmed PAM cases is low - affecting about one to three
people a year in Texas - research is ongoing. The Texas Department of Health recommends that
people avoid stagnant or polluted water and take - No Swimming - signs seriously.
Officials recommend that those taking part in warm, fresh water-related activities
use nose clips or hold their noses shut while jumping into water or doing other activities where
untreated water might get forced up the nose. With the ameba often found in soil, it is best to avoid
stirring up underwater sediment. If infection is suspected, emergency medical care should be sought
Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, is a bacteria normally found in the
intestines of humans and other warm blooded animals. It can pollute water bodies and other areas through
contact with waste or feces.
Researchers have found contact with some forms of the bacteria can cause
gastrointestinal illnesses, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
Healthy adults usually recover from infection within a week, but young children and older adults can develop
a life-threatening form of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Public water treatment systems are designed to kill the bacteria. Well treated
and maintained swimming pools are also safe. However, one can become infected by accidentally swallowing
untreated lake or stream water while swimming, or by drinking untreated water when camping, hiking or
participating in other outdoor activities. The illness can also spread through contaminated foods.
Currently there are no treatments to cure the infection or relieve symptoms.
Getting rest and drinking plenty of fluids is the best option for most people. Those sick with E.coli
should avoid anti-diarrheal medications. These slow the digestive system, preventing the body from
ridding itself of toxins.
Giardiasis is an infection of the small intestine caused by single-celled
parasites called giardia. Found worldwide, especially in areas with poor sanitation and unsafe water,
the parasite typically infects through exposure to fecal mater through contaminated water or food.
Symptoms, which usually begin about a week after infection, include diarrhea, nausea and abdominal
Giardiasis is one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in the
United States. Infections can last up to six weeks, but intestinal problems can continue longer.
Though there are drugs used to combat the parasites, they do not work with everyone. Efforts should
instead be focused on prevention.
Another potentially hazardous contaminant is cryptosporidium, a microscopic
parasite that lives in intestines of warm blooded animals, including humans, and is passed with waste.
In healthy people, the parasite can cause illness with symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, fever and
dehydration among others. Cryptosporidium can prove deadly for those with weakened immune systems.
The parasite is very resistant to chlorine-based disinfectants and boiling is considered the most
effective way of killing it.
Symptoms may last for up to two weeks, though they may occasionally recur for up
to a month. Some infected people may have no symptoms. Like giardia, cryptosporidium is a common cause
of U.S. waterborne illness. Also like giardia, these parasites are hearty and avoiding them is the best
As Benjamin Franklin said, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
When it comes to fighting waterborne illnesses, taking precautions to exposure is the best approach,
since many of these contaminants are hearty or have no known treatment.
Here are some suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to
avoid getting sick or spreading a waterborne illness:
When swimming, jumping into water or waterskiing and other similar activities,
use nose clips or something else to prevent untreated water from being forced up your nose.
- Avoid stagnant water and obey "No Swimming" signs.
- Also when in the water, be careful to avoid accidentally swallowing untreated water.
If you get thirsty while hiking, camping or doing any other activity around a stream,
lake or other source of untreated water, boil the water before ingesting or using to wash foods to be
eaten uncooked. While commercially available filters, iodine tablets and chlorine may get rid of some
pathogens, others are hearty enough to survive all but boiling temperatures.
If you depend on a private well for your water, be sure to have the water checked
annually for contamination.
- Don't swim when you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and sicken others.
Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after
using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.
Take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Waiting to hear
"I have to go" may mean that it's too late.
If you live near water and have a septic system, have the system checked
periodically to make sure it is functioning properly and not leaking waste into the water.
For more information about PAM, click
For further information about waterborne illnesses and avoiding them, click