Cholera Disease - Cholera Symptom, Causes, Picture, Treatment

Cholera ia an a cute inflammation of the small bowel caused by the bacterium Vibrio Cholera, which is transmitted by drinks or food contaminated by the faeces of infected people. Cholera is not really a tropical disease, but is related to standards of hygiene and the quality of drinking water. It was a single well in London in the 1850-60s that was the source of several separate cholera epidemics.

Cholera is endemic in parts of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and around the Gulf of Mexico, and in the early 1990s there was a major epidemic in South America. Localised outbreaks in Europe, Japan and Australia have been traced to infected travellers. The cholera bacteria is passed in the stools (feces). It is spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated by the fecal waste of an infected person.

Symptom of Cholera

The incubation period is 1 to 3 days. People exposed to cholera may experience mild to severe diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Fever is usually absent.The initial symptoms include the abrupt onset of profuse, painless watery diarrhoea and vomiting. The resultant severe loss of fluid and salts leads to intense thirst, reduced urine production, muscular cramps, weakness and signs of dehydration. Occasionally symptoms are mild.

Diagnosis of Cholera

Cholera should be suspected if these symptoms develop in travellers in, or recently returnedfrom, areas where it is endemic. It is confirmed by finding choeraein faeces. Many diseases cause diarrhoea, but if it is violent with watery stools, the doctor will treat you immediately. To make a definite diagnosis, the stools have to be examined to detect the cholera bacteria.

Treatment of Cholera

Replacement of body fluids must be started as soon as possible and continued until the diarrhoea stops. Because of the rapid dehydration that may result from severe diarrhea, replacement of fluids by mouth or by the intravenous route is critical. Antibiotics, such as tetracycline, are also used to shorten the duration of diarrhea and shedding of the bacteria in the stool. Dehydration and the disturbance of body chemistry by salt loss cause most deaths from severe cholera. Less severe cholera is usually self-limiting, with recovery in 3 to 6 days. Most patients are free of v. cholerae within 2 weeks, but a few become long-term carriers. Antibiotics are generally advised for cholera victims to shorten the course of the infection and to prevent them becoming carriers.

Bookmark This Page:

Home | Directory | Skin Diseases | Site Map | Cardiovascular Diseases | Hematological Diseases | Contact Us | Submit Site
Copyright © 2006 Medical-Diseases.info All Rights Reserved