9 Diseases Caused by Drinking Milk

Photo by: Bigstockphoto
Photo by: Bigstockphoto

2. Cryptosporidiosis

It doesn’t sound good… because it isn’t. Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic infection which may be caused by drinking milk. Unless you want to contract a disease that’s difficult to spell (much less pronounce), better read on.

Why drinking milk is bad for you: According to the Minnesota Department of Health, there were 350 confirmed cases of infection due to the consumption of raw milk from 2001 to 2010. Among these infections was cryptosporidiosis or “crypto”. Crypto is caused by Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite that commonly affects cattle including cows, goats, and sheep. But it is also known to infect humans through the ingestion of contaminated food and drinks, or through contact with infected cattle.

The parasite thrives in the intestinal tract and is passed off in the feces. Improper sanitation can easily infect cow’s milk with the parasite’s eggs. Once you’ve become infected with Cryptosporidium, you’ll get mild diarrhea that lasts for several days, or a more severe and persistent diarrhea that goes on for weeks. More often than not, diarrhea will be accompanied by abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and a low fever. Signs and symptoms of cryptosporidiosis usually appear within 2 to 10 days after drinking milk.

How to prevent disease caused by milk: Get cow’s milk from farms that follow strict sanitation. Never buy raw milk since they may be contaminated with crypto.

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