Epidemic cholera is a bacterial disease that can be spread through contaminated water. Cholera causes dehydration and serious diarrhea. Left untreated, cholera can be deadly in just hours, even in stable people.
Cholera is successfully treated. The effects of dehydration can be reversed by fluid intake or intravenous infusions.
SYMPTOMS
Many people who were exposed to the cholera bacterium (Vibrio cholera) don’t have any symptoms right away. However, they can shed cholera microorganisms in their stool for seven to 14 days after, and they can infect others through contaminated water. Most symptomatic occurrences of cholera cause diarrhea that can also be attributed to various medical conditions.
Symptoms of cholera infection may include:
DIAGNOSIS
Despite the fact that signs and symptoms of cholera may be common in endemic areas, the most ideal approach to diagnose is to look for the bacteria in a stool sample and grow it under culture media in the lab.
There are also rapid cholera dipstick tests that are now available for rapid determination.
TREATMENT
Cholera requires fast treatment because the disease can be serious within hours.
Treatments may include:
Rehydration. The goal is to override lost fluids and electrolytes using oral rehydration salts (ORS) or water
Intravenous fluids. During a cholera epidemic, dehydrated people may require intravenous fluids.
Antibiotics. While antibiotics are not part of standard cholera treatment, some may lessen both the intensity and duration of cholera
Zinc supplements. Research has shown that zinc may lessen diarrhea among children.
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