Cholera
On this page, you will find everything you are looking for regarding Cholera.
What Is Cholera?
Cholera is an acute diarrheal condition caused by a bacterial infection of the intestine due to contaminated food or drink with Cholera bacteria.
What Are the Symptoms of Cholera?
- Cholera symptoms may appear mildly or not at all, while severe symptoms are rare–affecting one in every ten people–and include:
- Watery diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Thirst
- Leg cramps
Restlessness
Cholera patients may also experience symptoms of dehydration due to fluid loss, such as increased heart rate, low blood pressure, and dry skin.
What Causes Cholera?
- Cholera can occur for several reasons:
- Consuming food or drinking water contaminated with cholera bacteria.
Lack of personal hygiene, and not washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching the belongings or personal items of someone infected with cholera.
What Are the Diagnostic Methods?:
- The doctor will take a medical history and conduct a clinical examination, and may request additional procedures as necessary, such as:
Stool analysis for the presence of abundant Cholera bacteria in watery stools.
What Are the Treatments for Cholera?
- Treatment involves several procedures, or as necessary, and may include:
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- Rehydration: As Cholera can cause potentially fatal dehydration if not treated properly, patients are provided with adequate amounts of:
- Oral rehydration solutions
- Intravenous fluids, when necessary
- Use of antibiotics.
Nutritional supplements (zinc), as zinc has proven effective in reducing the duration and severity of diarrhea in children.
What Are the Prevention Methods for Cholera?
- Preventing cholera relies on consuming safe food and drinking water, and meeting basic hygiene needs, summarized as follows:
- Ensuring water is safe to drink or use.
- Always washing hands with soap and water.
- Using toilets for sanitation and ensuring they are clean.
- Ensuring cooked food is consumed, and avoiding raw food–especially when traveling to endemic areas.
- Removing clothes and beddings potentially contaminated with feces, and ensuring thorough hand cleaning thereafter.
Cholera vaccination for people aged 2–64 years via an oral drink taken 10 days before traveling to endemic areas.
What Are the Complications of Choleral Infection?
- If a patient experiences severe symptoms like acute diarrhea, vomiting, and significant fluid loss, it may lead to severe dehydration with symptoms including:
- Weak pulse.
- Loss of skin elasticity.
- Dry mucous membranes.
- Low blood pressure.
Lethargy or loss of consciousness.
This can lead the body into shock, kidney failure, and possibly a coma, resulting in death.
When Should You See a Doctor?
The illness often manifests in countries or regions where the disease is active. If you visit one of these areas and neglect preventive measures, then develop symptoms, it is advisable to visit the centers responsible for treating Cholera in that region. It is also recommended to get vaccinated ten days before traveling to endemic areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have been in contact with someone infected with cholera. Can I become infected?
Yes, by touching the personal belongings of the person contaminated with Cholera, especially if personal hygiene is neglected.
I discovered that the area I will travel to has cholera. Can I prevent infection?
Yes, by following guidelines and receiving the vaccine, as it offers 90% protection 10 days after administration and lasts for up to six months.
I contracted cholera, received treatment, and am no longer infected. Am I protected from future infection?
