Cholera

About Cholera:

• It is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
• Cholera causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. 
• Left untreated, cholera can be fatal within hours, even in previously healthy people.
• The disease is most common in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine. Cholera outbreaks are more common in warm climates.
• Cholera is often predictable and preventable. It can ultimately be eliminated where access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as good hygiene practices, are ensured and sustained for the whole population.
• Symptoms:
  • Symptoms of cholera can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection.
  • Often, symptoms are mild. But sometimes they are very serious.
  • About one in 20 people infected have severe watery diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration. This can lead to death if left untreated.
• Treatment:
  • Currently, there are three WHO pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines (OCV), Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol-Plus. All three vaccines require two doses for full protection.
  • Treatment for cholera can include:
    • Rehydration therapy
    • Antibiotics
    • Zinc supplementation for children

Q1: What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections in people and animals. They work by killing the bacteria or by making it hard for the bacteria to grow and multiply.

Source: Cholera outbreak in India: Multiple cases reported in parts of Kerala, Gujarat—Know all about symptoms and treatment