Fecal-oral Transmission
Disease
Photo credit: Peter Essick, National Geographic
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What is Fecal-oral Transmission
Disease (FOTD)?
• Fecal-oral transmission disease occurs
when bacteria or viruses found in the stool
of one child (or animal) are swallowed by
another child.
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How is the Disease Contracted?
• Ingesting infected foods or beverages
• Swimming pools and water parks. If the
water is not visibly contaminated and is
adequately chlorinated, just getting the
water in the mouth is usually not enough
to cause an infection; the risk is greatly
increased by swallowing.
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How is the Disease Contracted?
• Diseases can be found in feces. Food and
water can become contaminated by feces.
Ingestion of contaminated food and water
can lead to illness.
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Common Infections Spread by
FOTD:
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•
•
•
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E.Coli Infections
Hepatitis A virus
Polio
Pinworms
Salmonella
Tapeworms
Shigella
Rotavirus
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How Can FOTD be Prevented?
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Frequent hand-washing
Frequent use of hand sanitizers
Safe food-handling procedures
Teach children to never swallow water in
pools or play areas
• Properly dispose of soiled baby diapers
• Don’t place diaper changing stations near
food preparation areas
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Sources:
• http://health.utah.gov/opha/publications/hs
u/08May_EntericDis.pdf
• http://www.drgreene.com/azguide/fecaloral-transmission
• http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Transmis
sion_%28medicine%29
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