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Cholera definition, causes, symptoms, prevention, treatment

Definition

Cholera is a infectious bacterial disease. This disease causes dehydration and watery diarrhea. This spreads through contaminated water. If cholera is not treated this can lead to even death. It can also be fatal to those people who were healthy previously. Cholera was prevalent in the U.S. in the 1800s. Nowadays cholera is eliminated vastly. But it still exists in Southeast Asia, Africa and some other places. When people are obliged to reside in those places where the sanitation is inadequate and war or natural disaster, the risk or possibility of cholera reaches to the highest.

Causes

Cholera is caused by a bacteria called Vibrio cholerae. This bacteria, usually found in food or water, produces toxin in your body and the toxin leads the body to secrete huge amount of water which causes diarrhea and also can cause rapid fluids and salts loss. And this is the main cause of cholera. The attacking bacteria is found in these sources: seafood, surface or well water, green fruits and vegetables and grains.

Symptoms

Most of the affected people by cholera bacteria don't know they have been attacked and they don't become sick. The patient can spread cholera bacteria through contaminated water. The symptoms of cholera appears after a few hours of infection. It can also be noticed as long as five days after the infection. Symptoms of cholera are:

  • Diarrhea with vomiting
  • Dehydration
  • Muscle cramps
  • Quick heart rate
  • Thirst
  • Low blood pressure
  • Skin elasticity loss

Prevention

The living place is another factor for cholera. But if you follow some proper steps, those will largely down your risk to be affected by cholera. Wash your hands before cooking or preparing foods and particularly after using toilet. This can also decrease your risk of being attacked by diarrhea. In case of unavailability of soap, you can use alcohol based hand-sanitizer. Use soap or sanitizer for at least 15 seconds. The second most important thing you need to consider is to drink safe water only. Use that water which is boiled, chemically disinfected or bottled. Ensure to use these water in some particular cases: drinking, ice making, preparing foods and drinks, teeth brushing, face and hands washing etc. And you also have to make sure that your consuming food is completely cooked. Try to avoid street food. But if you buy street foods, make sure that the food is cooked properly in your presence and also served hot. 

Treatment

Cholera can be treated. It has been mentioned before that dehydration can occur with cholera. That's why it is important to get treatment as soon as possible. Many persons develop mild symptoms or no symptoms. 10% of the affected people feel illness and they may require treatments. You have to keep in mind that, if you visit in that country where cholera is epidemic and eat raw shellfish, you may have watery diarrhea accompanied by vomiting. In this case, you need to seek for medical help quickly. Cholera should be treated quickly. Proper treatment can make a severely ill patient recover and feel better. Rehydration therapy is helpful for treatment. Also, zinc and antibiotic treatment are also helpful

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