Water quality and occurrence of water-borne diseases in the Douala 4th District, Cameroon.
The monthly occurrence and mean age distribution of water-borne diseases in the Douala 4th District, Cameroon (1995-2006) were studied and probable causes of diseases spread were established. Diseases of interest included gastroenteritis, amoebic dysentery, typhoid fever and cholera. Water-borne disease occurrence was observed to follow a seasonal pattern with peaks occurring between the months of January and May followed by drops between June and October and rose again from November. Children below 5 years were found to be more vulnerable to diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, amoebic dysentery while persons between 15-44 years were more vulnerable to typhoid and cholera. Physico-chemically, water samples had turbidities varying between 5.5-86 NTU, pH values between 4.2 and 7.1 and zero residual chlorine. Bacteriological analysis showed that the total coliform count was averagely 74/100 ml, the faecal colform count was 43/100 ml and the faecal streptococci count was 27/100 ml. Lack of access to potable water, absence of sanitation facilities and environmental factors could be advanced as the probable causes of water-borne disease spread.
Ako
Andrew Ako
AA
Hydrological Research Centre, Yaounde, Cameroon. akoandrew@yahoo.com
Nkeng
George Elambo
GE
Takem
Gloria Eyong Eneke
GE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002771:Cholera / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D012499:Sanitation; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
D012722:Sewage