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Cholera

What is Cholera ?

Cholera is a serious infection of the small intestine, characterized by severe diarrhoea that causes a person to lose up to half a litre of water an hour. The disease is highly infectious and is transmitted through contaminated water and food. If not promptly treated, about half of the patients die of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

SYMPTOMS

Sudden, profuse watery diarrhoea (rice-water stool), with very little or no faeces. The diarrhoea attack occurs 1-5 days after the infection.
Vomiting which accompanies diarrhoea in some cases.
Dehydration (thirst, dry lips and tongue, little or no urine passed).
Muscle cramps

COMPLICATIONS

Shock (pallor, rapid breathing, cold sweat, clammy skin, drowsiness, fast pulse rate, and loss of consciousness.)
Death (may come within hours).

CAUSE

Infection of the small intestine by the comma-shaped Vibrio cholerae bacteria. The disease spreads quickly in places or areas with improper sanitation or unhygienic practices. An epidemic can occur if people consume food prepared by hawkers who do not wash their hands after using the toilet or if there is an interruption of water supply or faulty sewerage system.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Go to the Emergency Department of the nearest hospital if you have symptoms of cholera. Delay in seeking treatment can lead to severe dehydration and shock.

WHAT YOUR DOCTOR/PHARMACIST CAN DO FOR YOU

If you have cholera, he will admit you to a hospital for treatment. This includes rapid replacement of lost fluids with solutions that contain the correct proportion of salt and sugar. If fluid replacement by mouth is not enough to correct dehydration, intravenous infusion into a vein)of fluids will be administered to you.
Prescirbe antibiotics.

Prescribe antibiotics.
Recommend appropriate electrolyte intake to rehydrate the body.

PREVENTION TIPS

Avoid eateries with poor standards of hygiene or where sanitation is in question.
Avoid unhygienic places(e.g. eateries with poor hygiene standards)and areas with poor sanitation.
Avoid areas where cholera is endemic(always present).If you must go to such areas take the following precautions: drink boiled water/bottled drinks, eat food that is freshly prepared and avoid ready-cut fruits, raw salads, ice cubes and ice creams.
Cover food and store it safely away from cockroaches, flies and rats, all of which can spread the disease.
have yourself immunized against cholera when traveling to an endemic area. The vaccine however provides only 50% protection at most and is effective for only up to six months. Precautions must therefore still be taken when drinking or eating.

Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and clean water after using the toilet, and before preparing food or eating. Immunization against cholera is no longer mandatory for international travellers because the vaccine is not always protective.

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