Listen to Story In India, millions of children face a silent yet deadly threat every day: contaminated water and poor nutrition. While healthcare advancements have made progress in treating infectious diseases, the root causes - unsafe water, lack of sanitation, and inadequate diets — continue to compromise children's health. The problem isn't just about access to food or medicine but a cycle of malnutrition and repeated infections that trap children in poor health, stunted growth, and vulnerability to diseases.
DIRTY WATER, POOR DIET, AND INFECTIONS Studies have shown a critical connection between contaminated water, poor sanitation, and childhood malnutrition. A study published in The Lancet Global Health reported that environmental enteropathy — an intestinal condition caused by prolonged exposure to unsanitary conditions — affects a large proportion of children in developing countries, including India. This condition damages the gut lining, impairing the absorption of essential nutrients and increasing susceptibility to bacterial and parasitic infections.
Studies have shown a critical connection between contaminated water, poor sanitation, and childhood malnutrition. (Photo: Getty Images) Infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist Dr Judd Walson spoke to India Today about the deep-rooted connection between health systems and environmental factors that lead to an increase in infectious diseases and malnutrition among children. "Poor sanitation and contaminated .
