Updated November 24, 2014.
Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease that is deadly without treatment. Thanks to modern hygienic advances, such as clean sanitation systems and drinking water, the disease is rare in the US and other developed countries.
Even though cholera is easily prevented and treated, it remains a huge public health problem in countries where hygienic practices and sanitation systems are not established. For example, the cholera epidemic in parts of Africa has been ongoing for more than 30 years, due to inadequate sanitation and water treatment systems.
Species Name: Vibrio cholerae
Type of Microes Name: Vibrio cholerae
Type of low blood pressure, and rapid weight loss. Shock occurs as a result of collapse of the circulatory system.
Diagnosis: Clinical symptoms of profuse watery diarrhea. "Cholera cots", cots with openings to allow fecal output into a bucket, are used to measure volumes of stool loss and fluid replacement needs. Consider the diagnosis in all cases of severe watery diarrhea and vomiting especially with rapid dehydration and recent travel or consumption of shellfish. Lab tests include stool gram stain (gram negative rods) culture, dark field microscopy or stool PCR. People must begin treatment even before diagnostic work-up.
Prognosis: Most infections are not severe, with 75% of infected people not showing any symptoms. However, these individuals continue to shed the bacteria back into the environment, potentially infecting others with severe cholera disease. In these individuals, the large volume of diarrhea helps to wash out the bacteria, allowing the infection to resolve spontaneously. However, because of severe dehydration, fatality rates are high (25 to 50%) when untreated, especially among children and infants. Death can occur in otherwise healthy adults within hours. Those who recover usually have long-term immunity against reinfection.
Treatment: Because death from cholera is a consequence of dehydration, the disease is treated using oral rehydration therapy (ORT), which consists of large volumes of water mixed with a blend of sugar and salts. Prepackaged mixtures are commercially available, but wide distribution in developing countries is limited by cost. Therefore, homemade ORT recipes using common household ingredients and materials have been developed. Severe cases of cholera require intravenous fluid replacement. Antibiotics can shorten illness, but ORT is still necessary even when antibiotics are used. Do not use anti-diarrheal medicines, since they prevent flushing of the bacteria out of the body.
Prevention: The CDC recommends to “Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it”. Individuals living or traveling to places where cholera is found should drink boiled or chlorine- or iodine-treated water or bottled beverage. Foods should be thoroughly cooked, and individuals should peel their own fruits. Also, avoid ice, raw foods, and ice cream. Be wary of foods and beverages from street vendors.
A new oral vaccine, called Dukoral is available in other countries, but is not recommended by the CDC because of incomplete protective effects.
How it causes disease: The bacteria attach to the small intestine and produce a toxin that disrupts the control and balance of fluid retention of mucosal cells within the intestines. Sources:
Cholera. Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cholera. World Health Organization.
Vibrio cholerae Serogroup O1. USFDA Bad Bug Book. Center for Food Safety and Nutrition.