Which of the following diseases or infections is caused due to poor water hygiene?

(a) Leprosy

(b) Trachoma

(c) Conjunctivitis

(d) All of the above

(d) All of the above

All the conditions listed—leprosy, trachoma, and conjunctivitis—can be caused or exacerbated by poor water hygiene. These are often categorized as water-washed diseases.

Unlike waterborne diseases which are spread by drinking contaminated water, water-washed diseases occur when there is a scarcity of clean water for basic hygiene, such as hand washing, bathing, and cleaning.

• Leprosy: While primarily spread through respiratory droplets from an infected person, the risk of transmission and the severity of the disease are closely linked to poor living conditions and inadequate personal hygiene, which are direct consequences of a lack of clean water.
• Trachoma: This is a severe bacterial eye infection and is the world's leading preventable cause of blindness. The bacteria spreads easily from person to person through contaminated hands, towels, and flies that breed in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water for washing.
• Conjunctivitis: Also known as pinkeye, this is an inflammation of the outer membrane of the eyeball. Both bacterial and viral forms are highly contagious and spread through direct contact with contaminated hands or objects, a risk that is significantly increased by a lack of clean water for regular hand washing.