Sewage contains a wide range of harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses including E.coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and Norovirus. Should any spill in your property, your health could be at serious risk.
ICE Cleaning is a specialist cleaning company that offers rapid response sewage cleaning services. Its technicians can clean up all the sewage and decontaminate the affected area thoroughly. They are stationed across the UK and can be on site in a matter of hours in an emergency.
Continue reading to find out what the most common effects of sewage exposure are.
Salmonellosis
This is a bacterial infection of the intestinal tract caused by Salmonella. It is spread by the faecal-oral route – that is, if you ingest sewage – and occasionally by animal contact. The disease can lead to a fever, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramping.
Gastroenteritis
Also known as the stomach flu, it is a short-term illness caused by ingesting the pathogens in sewage water, such as Salmonella and Norovirus. The viral disease makes the stomach, small intestine, and colon inflame and results in a fever, diarrhoea, headaches, abdominal cramping, and vomiting.
Hepatitis A
This viral disease can cause a reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, headaches, jaundice, and abdominal pain. It may lead to serious liver problems, too, such as impairing its ability to function and even liver failure.
Giardiasis
Giardia lamblia is a parasite found in sewage that can grow in your small intestine should you consume contaminated food or water. You may experience nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, and vomiting. It can survive outside of the body for several weeks.
Shigellosis
Known also as bacillary dysentery, it is caused by the bacteria Shigella as a result of exposure to faeces or contaminated water. Most people will experience bloody diarrhoea, a fever, and stomach cramps.
Coli infection
Ingesting E. coli can lead to abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and vomiting. If the infection progresses, it could damage blood vessels in the skin and result in a rash, and spread to the kidneys. Only a few strains of E. coli can cause serious health problems.
Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that causes diarrhoea when ingested. It can be especially dangerous for people that are frail or already unwell. As the parasite is protected by an outer shell, it is able to survive outside the body for a long period of time and is very resistant to disinfection.
Contact a sewage cleaning company as soon as a spill happens
You must not attempt sewage cleanup yourself. Without the right personal protective equipment, you could touch and ingest the sewage, and be vulnerable to the health problems mentioned.
You might not clean it all up properly, either, and could leave behind pathogens, putting yourself and others at risk in the future. ICE Cleaning’s sewage cleaners are trained biohazard specialists that can give you peace of mind that your home is safe again. They are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
You can find out more about ICE Cleaning and its array of specialist cleaning services on its website.