Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Are The Health Risks Associated With Drinking Polluted Water?
Question: Hello doctor
I have a question regarding an incident happened for me and my family. We drink polluted drinking water. The water was smiling very bad when I see the water tank there was a died bird in our water tank and we drink that contaminated water. It is now two days and no any symptoms occurred. What should I do. I am afraid from an infectious diseases which can be silent with no symptoms . Should I do any blood test. I have my small kid he is just one year who also drink from that water. Is this carry any serous health risk. Please advise.
I have a question regarding an incident happened for me and my family. We drink polluted drinking water. The water was smiling very bad when I see the water tank there was a died bird in our water tank and we drink that contaminated water. It is now two days and no any symptoms occurred. What should I do. I am afraid from an infectious diseases which can be silent with no symptoms . Should I do any blood test. I have my small kid he is just one year who also drink from that water. Is this carry any serous health risk. Please advise.
Brief Answer:
probably not
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
although I can't guaranty anything, there is probably no serious risk, unless the bird carried a communicable disease (which led to its death). I can't come up with any disease (and I couldn't possibly know bird diseases!) that has been reportedly transmitted thought a water tank this way! I can confirm though, that various serious respiratory tract infection can be transmitted from birds to humans.
Regarding the decaying corpse, it's a consideration because the decaying process involves a great number of bacteria proliferating like crazy and producing the characteristic bad smell of corpses. In other cases that I've read about, no serious harm was done but the number is indeed extraordinary and some of them may cause disease.
The good news is that chlorine in the water is very effective against many bacteria (not all though, particularly when they exist in great numbers) and the water quantity is very big compared to the corpse size. Besides that our stomachs can usually cope with many untoward situations because of the acidity and other protective mechanisms.
So in conclusion, I can't guaranty anything but you'll probably have no serious problem. Remaining vigilant for any effects is advised. I can't recommend any treatment for this condition, because there is no specific 'target'.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
probably not
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
although I can't guaranty anything, there is probably no serious risk, unless the bird carried a communicable disease (which led to its death). I can't come up with any disease (and I couldn't possibly know bird diseases!) that has been reportedly transmitted thought a water tank this way! I can confirm though, that various serious respiratory tract infection can be transmitted from birds to humans.
Regarding the decaying corpse, it's a consideration because the decaying process involves a great number of bacteria proliferating like crazy and producing the characteristic bad smell of corpses. In other cases that I've read about, no serious harm was done but the number is indeed extraordinary and some of them may cause disease.
The good news is that chlorine in the water is very effective against many bacteria (not all though, particularly when they exist in great numbers) and the water quantity is very big compared to the corpse size. Besides that our stomachs can usually cope with many untoward situations because of the acidity and other protective mechanisms.
So in conclusion, I can't guaranty anything but you'll probably have no serious problem. Remaining vigilant for any effects is advised. I can't recommend any treatment for this condition, because there is no specific 'target'.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
