Abstract

Air and waterborne diseases pose significant public health challenges globally, particularly in regions with inadequate sanitation infrastructure and poor access to clean water and air. These diseases, often caused by various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, are transmitted through contaminated air or water sources, leading to a range of illnesses from mild infections to severe, life-threatening conditions. Understanding the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and risk factors associated with air and waterborne diseases is crucial for effective prevention and control strategies. This review explores the diverse spectrum of air and waterborne diseases, including respiratory infections like tuberculosis, influenza, and Legionnaires' disease, as well as waterborne illnesses such as cholera, typhoid fever, and hepatitis A. Factors contributing to the spread of these diseases include urbanization, climate change, population growth, and inadequate sanitation practices. Additionally, socio-economic disparities exacerbate vulnerability to these diseases, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. Prevention measures encompass a range of interventions, including vaccination, water treatment, sanitation improvements, and air quality management. Furthermore, the importance of interdisciplinary approaches involving public health, environmental science, engineering, and policy-making is emphasized for comprehensive disease control strategies. By addressing the complex interplay of environmental, social, and biological factors, concerted efforts can mitigate the burden of air and waterborne diseases and promote healthier communities worldwide.

Air and waterborne diseases pose significant threats to public health worldwide, particularly in regions with inadequate sanitation infrastructure and poor access to clean water and air quality control measures. These diseases, transmitted through the inhalation of contaminated air or ingestion of contaminated water, encompass a broad spectrum of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. In addition to their direct impact on human health, they also exert substantial economic burdens through healthcare costs, lost productivity, and societal disruption. Effective prevention and control of air and waterborne diseases require a multifaceted approach, including improvements in sanitation, access to clean water, vaccination programs, vector control measures, and public health education initiatives. Furthermore, with the increasing globalization and urbanization trends, the risk of these diseases spreading across borders and within densely populated urban areas escalates, necessitating coordinated efforts at local, national, and international levels.

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the major air and waterborne diseases, their causative agents, transmission routes, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, prevention strategies, and current challenges in their management. By elucidating the complexities of these diseases and highlighting the importance of integrated control measures, this review seeks to inform policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and the general public about the urgent need for concerted action to mitigate the burden of air and waterborne diseases on global health.