Cholera Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

What is Cholera?

Cholera, the infectious bacterial disease tends to target your small intestine. Mostly, it is spread through impure water. The condition causes severe dehydration and diarrhea. In case left untreated, it may turn fatal within hours. Normally, it can be treated easily.

What are the Symptoms of Cholera?

After infection, the symptoms can start within hours or can take few days. Mostly, the symptoms are unnoticeable and mild. However, at times, they can be very serious. Infected individuals can experience severe watery diarrhea together with vomiting, which can instantly cause dehydration.

Few dehydration symptoms include:

• Thirst.
• Rapid heart rate.
• Muscle cramps.
• Low blood pressure.
• Dry skin and mucous membranes such as throat, eyelids, nose.
• Skin elasticity loss.

In case the dehydration is not treated, it may cause shock and death within some hours.

What are the Causes of Cholera?

The diarrheal illness, cholera is triggered by vibrio cholera bacteria. The species is foreign to humans, and thus when enters our digestive system, causes us harm. Through different routes, the bacteria can enter our ecosystem. However, it mainly enters through contaminated water or food. When we consume seafood, and fails cooking it properly, in the case, we ingest greater quantity of bacteria that can cause cholera.

Another main source is the badly cleaned vegetables that are irrigated by polluted water. Moreover, in certain situation where hygiene is greatly challenged, for example communities with inadequate water resources or refugee camps, a particular affected sufferer can easily contaminate the entire water for the total population.

What are the Risk Factors of Cholera?

Risk factors for the condition include:
• Bad sanitary conditions.
• If your blood group is O.
• Nonexistent or reduced stomach acid.
• Living with an individual who has cholera.
• Eating undercooked or raw shellfish.

What are the Complications of Cholera?

Even though, severe dehydration and shock are the most serious complications, few other possible complications include:
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
• Hypokalemia (low potassium levels)
• Renal (kidney failure).

Cholera Diagnosis

In order to verify cholera, stool sample is conducted to spot the bacteria causing the symptoms. Thanks to the advancing technologies, rapid cholera dipstick tests can help confirm cholera earlier.

Cholera Treatment

The condition needs instant treatment since it can cause serious complications if left untreated for long. Few treatment options for cholera include:
• Rehydration.
• Intravenous fluids.
• Antibiotics.
• Zinc supplements.

Prevention:

Few basic precautions can greatly help you prevent from diseases like cholera. Have a look:
• Frequently wash your hands using a hand wash or soap.
• Consume safe boiled water.
• Consume food that is fresh and completely cooked.
• Avoid improperly cooked or raw seafood or fish.
• In case of traveling areas that are cholera-endemic, stick to vegetables and fruits that you can easily peel yourself for example oranges, bananas and avocados.
• Avoid dairy foods while traveling such areas. For example ice-cream.

 

By : Natural Health News