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Cholera Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Cholera disease β all you need to know about it
Table of Contents
Overview
Cholera is a viral and bacterial disease infection which is spread by the consumption of unhealthy, dirty and unhygienic and contaminated water. Cholera can become a severe cause of dehydration and diarrhoea.
Cholera can cause so extreme dehydration in oneβs body that the personβs body suffering from cholera can even turn bluish-grey due to so much liquid loss. Thus, cholera is also called the blue death.
Treatments can help if started immediately or they can cause death also. There are mild symptoms in the majority of the case and if treated well can, one can simply get rid of the disease in a short span of time.
The pandemic started in 1961 in South Asia and now the estimates show that around 4 million cases of cholera worldwide are found every year among which death rates are 2500 people per country. That means cholera must not be taken in an easy and light way.
Modern and advanced systems had helped to decrease cholera but cases are still coming every year. Cholera is not so fatal and rehydration solution can help in all ways.
Causes β
The vibrio cholera bacteria is the cause of giving birth to cholera disease. The major general reasons are β
β’ Eating raw and unprocessed seafood
β’ Consumption of Raw, unpeeled fruits and vegetables
β’ Drinking contaminated surface water or well water
β’ Foods like whole grains and millets that are cooked and kept at room temperature
β’ A long period of time and also gives birth to diseases like cholera.
β’ Living in a poor sanitary environment
β’ Type O blood group
β’ Low level of stomach acid
β’ Ice made with municipal water
Symptoms β
Cholera symptoms in all people are not visible most of the time. Less than 10% of people suffer the symptoms. The general signs by which you can detect the infection are β
β’ Diarrhoea
β’ Nausea or vomiting
β’ Dehydration
β’ Tiredness and fatigue
β’ Mood swings
β’ Dry face, lips and mouth
β’ Low blood pressure
β’ Often thirsty
β’ Less amount of urine pass
β’ Abnormal heartbeat rate
β’ Fever or drowsinessβ’ Convulsions
β’ Leg pain or pain in other muscles of the body part
β’ Dry mucus membrane
When does the need to consult a doctor arrive ?
If sudden diarrhoea or severe vomiting occurs, or you feel unwell from the inside, you need a doctor’s recommendation. Dry and dehydrated body if unseen carefully can lead to severe organ damage. So, you need not waste your time and visit your doctor immediately.
Complications associated with cholera infection
cholera is not a fatal disease. But cholera can lead to fatal diseases. One needs to understand that except dehydration and diarrhoea, cholera has many other serious complications β
β’ Kidney failure
β’ Low potassium levels
β’ Heart and nerve disease
β’ Hypoglycaemia ( low blood sugar)
β’ Coma
β’ Death
β’ Abnormal mental conditions
β’ Unconscious mind
β’ Shock
Vaccines for cholera
Yes, vaccines are available for cholera infection. There is currently three vaccines available qualified by the world health organization. The oral cholera vaccines available are –
β’ Dukoral vaccine (manufactured by SBL manufacturers)
β’ Shanchol vaccine ( manufactured by Shanta biotech in India)
β’ Huichol plus vaccine (manufactured by biologics)
How can you prevent cholera infection
Even if you are unaware of cholera, you must keep a few things always in your mind so that you stay untouched from any kind of disease in your life. Talking about cholera, follow the following steps for your health prevention from cholera β
β’ Quit sushi
β’ Drink water supplied from a safe place and in a safe way
β’ Keep your hands clean all the time even if you are not going to eat
β’ Eat complete cooked and hot food
β’ Eat peeled fruits and vegetables
β’ Drink boiled water
β’ Do not poop in any water body
β’ Get freshen up in the clean washroom
How do doctors diagnose for cholera ?
There are not so many complicated ways to detect cholera disease. It is easily diagnosed by doctors by the following method β
β’ Your stool culture is checked to study the bacterial infection in your poop
β’ Crystal VC dipstick test
β’ Molecular test
β’ Darkfield microscopy
Treatments available for cholera disease β
There are not so many complicated ways to detect cholera disease. It is easily diagnosed by doctors by the following method β
β’ Rehydration solution
β’ Zinc supplements
β’ Antibiotics as medications
β’ Intravenous fluids
Frequently asked questions β
Answer β people living in unsensitized , poor facilitated area , childrenβs of less than 5 years age and people with low stomach acidity is more likely to get cholera infection.
Answer β according to the past cases and studies , a person have higher risk of dying within 24 hours only as because dehydration in body is not a light issue.
Answer β vaccines have helped everyone in reduction of risk and is completely safe . You must have the vaccine.
Answer β the vaccines generally starts showing their effects within 10 days.
Answer β the vaccine costs $1.30 per dose which is an efficient cost affordable by all.
Answer β cholera in most cases stay for five days to a week in a personβs body.
Answer β yes , drinking boiling water is one of the most effective way to prevent yourself from cholera.
