What is cholera? How is it treated.

What is cholera?

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease, which is caused by Vibrio cholerae. It's cases are characterized by Sudden onset as profusely, effortless, watery diarrhoea followed by vomiting/rapid dehydration muscular cramps and urine suppression.

It can cause epidemic, endemic and pandemic.Cholera epidemic in the community is Self limiting.

Causetive agents

Vibrio cholerae O group 1

How does it spreads?

The vibrio cholerae, cholera's bacteria is transmitted from one person to another through water contamination.How does it spreads?

Clinical features

90% of cases are mild & clinically diagnosed from other acute diarrhoea.

Cholera cases shows 3 stages.

1. stage of evacuation

  • sudden unset

  • profuse,painless watery diarrhoea

    followed by vomiting

  • 40 stools per day

  • stool-Rice watery

2. stage of collapse

  • Dehydration

  • signs are sunken eye, hollow cheeks,

    scaphoid abdomen,subnormal temp,

    loss of skin elasticity,altered resp and

    BP

  • Decrease urine output

3. stage of recovery

    If death doesn't occur the patient begin

    to show sign of improvement

Diagnosis

• Collection of stool for lab examination

- Rubber catheter (Best method)

- Rectal swab

• Rapid cholera dipstick test

Treatments

The aim of treatment in cholera is to redydrate the patient.Drug therapy is much less important than rehydration

• Fluid replacement by orally or IV is the

  first important steps

• Antibiotics:

  Doxycycline is choice for adults

  Cotrim is choice for Child

  Furazolidone is choice for pregnant

• If diarrhoea persists after 48 hours of

  treatment resistance to antibiotic

  should be suspected.

Prevention

Hand Washing

• Proper hand washing with soap

• Proper cooking food and proper food

handling

• Proper access of safe and clean water

supply

• Environment sanitation

• Maintenance of personal hygiene

• Health education on Cholera

• Vaccination

# Better to know :

∆ V.cholerae is gram negative rod shaped

∆ Water is most important vehicle of

   cholera transmission.

∆ CFR is 30-40%

∆ Isotonic fluid is given in cholera.

∆ Washerman's hand & feet are the

   features of cholera.

∆ 90-95% acute case are treated with ORS

∆ ORS is essential treatment of cholera

∆ Cholera is notifiable disease Locally,

   nationally & Internationally

∆ Vaccine: Dukoral(WC-rBS) & Sanchol

    & mORCVAx are available

# To know more about cholera

   in Hindi watch this video: