What Is Cryptosporidium?
Unlike some of the more famous health concerns such as E. coli, Norovirus, and Salmonella, you may not have heard of this particular risk to your family’s well-being. A parasite that can be transmitted between people, Cryptosporidium is the cause of many unpleasant tummy problems, so it’s well worth understanding the risks of this particular organism.
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A Common Problem
In fact, Cryptosporidium is the fourth most prevalent cause of gastrointestinal problems. These health issues can include nasty symptoms such as diarrhoea, feeling or being sick, loss of appetite, and even a high temperature. This all means that you want to limit your chances of being affected, particularly if your household includes vulnerable people such as babies or the elderly.
How Does It Reach Us?
Like many bacteria, Cryptosporidium thrives in moist conditions, in particular where human waste (faecal matter) is involved. This can make outbreaks common in places like nurseries if proper hygiene about washing hands after changing nappies isn’t maintained. It can also be transferred through water, on food, or in places where water is not clean.
This means that maintaining the condition of sewer pipes is vital. Therefore, checking the health of any sewer pipe lining Solihull, for example, can be a good way to prevent the parasite from having a place to thrive, or even finding its way into our waterways where many of us enjoy swimming and other leisure pursuits. Experts such as www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/drain-repairs/drain-repairs-solihull/ should be able to advise.
Having access to clean and uncontaminated drinking water is also key to avoiding Cryptosporidium, along with making sure to wash your hands after visiting the toilet or changing nappies, as well as before and after preparing food. Those with autoimmune conditions, Crohn’s disease or other inflammatory bowel disorders should consider boiling tap water before drinking.
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And, if you find yourself affected by this parasite, the important thing is to stay hydrated. Contact your GP if your symptoms don’t clear up after several days. It’s also essential to avoid touching or sharing towels or linens whilst affected, as the parasite is extremely infectious.