🦠 Cholera
Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It spreads through contaminated water or food and can cause rapid dehydration and death if not treated promptly.
🧬 Cause
- Caused by Vibrio cholerae, primarily serogroups O1 and O139
- Produces cholera toxin, which causes the intestines to secrete large amounts of water
🌍 Transmission
- Fecal–oral route (drinking or eating contaminated water or food)
- Common sources:
- Untreated drinking water
- Raw or undercooked seafood
- Street food handled without hygiene
- Outbreaks often occur in areas with:
- Poor sanitation
- Crowded living conditions
- Natural disasters or refugee camps
⚠️ Symptoms
🕐 Incubation Period: 2 hours to 5 days
1️⃣ Mild or Asymptomatic (~80% of cases)
2️⃣ Typical Symptoms:
- Sudden onset of profuse, watery diarrhea (“rice water stools”)
- Vomiting
- Rapid dehydration
- Dry mouth, sunken eyes
- Low blood pressure
- Muscle cramps
- Weak pulse or collapse
- Shock or death can occur within hours if untreated
🧪 Diagnosis
- Clinical diagnosis during outbreaks (based on symptoms)
- Laboratory tests:
- Stool culture (gold standard)
- Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for screening
💊 Treatment
✅ Immediate treatment is critical!
🥤 Rehydration is the cornerstone:
- Oral rehydration salts (ORS) for mild/moderate cases
- IV fluids (Ringer’s lactate) for severe dehydration
- Continue zinc supplements for children (reduces duration/severity)
💊 Antibiotics (for severe cases only):
- Reduce duration of illness and bacterial shedding
- Common options: Doxycycline, Azithromycin, or Ciprofloxacin
💉 Prevention
🛡️ Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
- Drink safe, treated water
- Use improved sanitation (toilets, latrines)
- Wash hands with soap, especially after using the toilet and before eating
💉 Vaccines
- Oral cholera vaccines (OCVs):
- Dukoral, Shanchol, Euvichol-Plus
- Used in endemic areas and during outbreaks
- WHO recommends for high-risk populations
🌍 Global Impact
- 1.3 to 4 million cases per year globally
- 21,000 to 143,000 deaths annually (WHO)
- Endemic in Africa, Asia, Haiti, and parts of Latin America
- Linked to poverty, poor sanitation, and conflict zones
✅ Key Facts
- Cholera can kill within hours due to dehydration
- Easily treatable with prompt rehydration
- Preventable through clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
- Vaccines and preparedness are key in outbreak control