Cholera - What You Need to Know about it

Cholera is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. The immediate symptom in its victims is an acute diarrhea of a whitish smelly fluid. The watery diarrhea leads to severe dehydration putting the patient at risk of loss of life if not attended to immediately. Contaminated food and water are the leading avenues through which the bacteria get into the body. The symptoms can begin to appear within a period of 1 to 5 days. In some cases the diarrhea contains whitish flecks which are around the size of rice grains.

The dehydration leads to excessive thirst and the skin loses elasticity. Further symptoms include increased heart rate, reduced blood pressure, vomiting and muscle cramps. Severe dehydration can lead to renal failure and other fatal conditions that lead to death. It should be noted that the dehydration occurs very rapidly. After the initial liquid stool, it only takes between 4 and 8 hours for the condition to turn critical. If no rehydration efforts are made, the victim could die after 18 hours onwards.

The diagnosis of cholera starts with the examination of the stool. Questions are also asked regarding the hygienic conditions of the victim’s residence, especially if the symptoms are also present in other community members. This is to determine if there is an outbreak. Other than the color and watery nature of the stool, an examination under the microscope reveals plenty of bacteria which are comma-shaped. The bacteria can also be isolated from the fluid for more detailed analysis.

Rehydration is the immediate treatment for this disease. Rehydration fluids come in packaged containers and are rich in glucose. The patient’s response should be monitored closely. An increase in the pulse rate indicates positive response. After stability is attained, the bacteria can be treated using a number of ways including home remedies. Such a decision, however, should only be made after consulting a doctor.

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