Transmission, Signs and Symptoms of Cholera

Transmission, Signs and Symptoms of Cholera

Cholera is a water-borne disease. It is endemic in parts of Asia, particularly India. Epidemics occur from time to time in other countries, as in Peru in 1992 which was the first outbreak in South America of the twentieth century. In 1991 more than 16000 people died worldwide from half a million cases of cholera. Improved treatment. It is caused by Vibrio cholerae. The main source of infection is water contaminated by faeces from a sufferer of the disease or a 'carrier'. A carrier is an individual infected  with vibrios who does not develop the typical symptoms of cholera.

The main symptoms are watery diarrhea and vomiting. This may result in dehydration and in severe cases grayish-bluish skin. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated by the feces (waste product) of an infected person, including one with no apparent symptoms.

                             

The cruelty of the diarrhea and vomiting can lead to rapid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, and death in some cases. The primary treatment is oral re-hydration therapy, typically with oral re-hydration solution, to replace water and electrolytes. If this is not tolerated or does not provide improvement fast enough, intravenous fluids can also be used. Antibacterial drugs are beneficial in those with severe disease to shorten its duration and severity.

Worldwide, it affects 3–5 million people and causes 100,000–130,000 deaths a year as of 2010. Cholera was one of the earliest infections to be studied by epidemiological methods.