Cholera And It's Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Haiti once again has been struck with ill fate. 3000 Haiti Earthquake victims have reported as suffering from cholera. The death toll has gone up to 250 in Haiti. Cholera has spread rapidly in the camps of Haiti earthquake victims due to unhygienic living conditiond.

Cholera is diarrhoeal illness which is caused due to the infection of the intestine. It is caused by the bacteria called Vibrio Cholerae. It is a common disease in the United States, Indian sub continents and Africa. This disease is curable but needs immediate attention. Death in this disease generally happens due to dehydration of the body.

Causes Of Cholera

Causes of Cholera includes consumption of contaminated water, unhygienic sewage system, in contact with a cholera patient, raw or spoiled sea food. The bacteria that causes the disease is generally spread through water and once swallowed it settles in the intestine. The incubation period of Cholera is usually one week.

Symptoms of Cholera

The symptoms of Cholera appear only after one week of being infected with the virus. The symptoms of Cholera are -

1.Watery faeces also called the 'rice water faeces' with bits of mucus.
2.Constant vomiting and nausea
3.abdominal and leg cramp
4.Tiredness and dehydration
5.Constant fever

The symptoms are mild in the first few days. Treatment for Cholera if started during this time is easily curable. In the second phase of Cholera, due to constant vomiting and loose motions, acute dehydration takes place which can also lead to death. The symptoms of Cholera is generally passed on from one person to another due to close contact to the excretion of the infected person. Thus, it spreads in unhygienic areas.

Treatment Of Cholera

The primary goal for treatment of Cholera is to rehydrate the patient of the lost fluid. The rehydration is done in two phases – Rehydration and maintenance.

In the rehydration phase the patient is given 50-100ml of Lactated Ringer solution. The person should ideally be hydrated within 4 hours of time. It also works on the metabolism of the patient.

To maintain the hydration of the patient, generally the oral treatment is chosen. Oral rehydration includes the use of ORS – Oral Rehydration Solution. The patient is given 500-1000 Ml of ORS.

Antibiotics

Tetracycline is the antibiotic which is generally used for the treatment of Cholera. This kills the bacteria which has caused the disease and controls the duration and fluid loss through stool and vomiting.