A Matter Of Drinking Water
More than ever, water is life!
Our body needs water to sustain its vital functions. Therefore, water is crucial for our bodies, and this need becomes even more significant and prominent during periods of illness.
What is Ebola?
Ebola is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by several species of viruses from the genus Ebolavirus. Symptoms of Ebola start out flu-like but can progress to severe vomiting, bleeding, and neurological (brain and nerve) issues.
Ebola can spread to people from bats, nonhuman primates and antelope. From there it can spread from human to human and cause outbreaks (where large numbers of people get infected around the same time).
When we have infections or injuries, our immune system heals our body. The immune system is a large network of organs, white blood cells, proteins, and chemicals working together to protect against germs and other invaders. The immune system consists of three lines of defense. The first line includes the mouth, nose, eyes, ears, and skin, along with their secretions. The second line comprises plasma proteins, phagocytic cells (monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils), and natural killer cells. The third line, known as specific immunity, involves T lymphocytes (cellular immunity) and B lymphocytes (humoral immunity). All these lines aim to protect the body from pathogens, with the common requirement being the essential element "water." Doctors often recommend ample fluid intake to ensure the functionality of these defense mechanisms. In the case of Ebola, water has been identified as a crucial factor in treatment because recovery depends on good supportive care and the patient's immune response. The key to having a robust immune system is ensuring the body receives an adequate amount of fluids.
During the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a doctor volunteered for duty and contracted the virus. Upon learning about the infection, she initially thought she couldn't survive. Describing her time in quarantine, she stated:
"I knew my body was engaged in a significant battle. Being a doctor, I was conscious of what my body needed most during its fight against the virus. Therefore, I drank more water than I ever did in my life to aid my immune system in its battle and meet its needs. I know from my doctor friends who took care of me that I constantly asked for a water bottle. I don't remember putting down the water bottle from my hand until I overcame the virus; I even had it in my hand when I fell asleep."
After recovering from the illness, she emphasized the tremendous effort our bodies exert to protect us. She highlighted the importance of drinking water for maintaining our health and protecting our bodies.
There is a belief that we better understand the importance of something when we lose it. Hopefully, we realize the significance of our health before losing it and take better care of ourselves to preserve it.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/treatment/survivors.html#:~:text=Recovery from Ebola disease depends,last 10 years, possibly longer.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15606-ebola-virus-disease
https://www.unicef.org/drcongo/en/stories/water-indispensable-ally-fight-against-ebola
Abbas AK, Lichtman AH, Pillai S. Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System, fifth ed. Elsevier Inc. 2016, Canada.