Cholera

Definition: Cholera  is an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. 
Incubation period: It has a short incubation period, from less than one day to five days, and produces an enterotoxin that causes a

copious, painless, watery diarrhoea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given. Vomiting also occurs in most patients.

Signs and Symtomps: These symptoms usually start suddenly, half a day to five days after ingestion of the bacteria.
1.  The primary symptoms of cholera are profuse diarrhoea and vomiting of clear fluid.
 The diarrhea is frequently described as "rice water" in nature and may have a fishy odour.
2. Dry mucous membranes due to copious fluid loss.
3. Thirst
4. sunken eyes
5. cold clammy skin 
6. Kussmaul breathing, a deep and labored breathing pattern, can occur because of acidosis from stool bicarbonate losses and lactic acidosis associated with poor perfusion.
7. low blood pressure 
8. rapid and thready peripheral pulse
9. urine output decreases with time
Treatment of Cholera 

Cholera is an easily treatable disease. The prompt administration of oral rehydration salts to replace lost fluids nearly always results in cure. In especially severe cases, intravenous administration of fluids may be required to save the patient's life.

Left untreated, however, cholera can kill quickly following the onset of symptoms. 

Prevention

The World Health Organization recommends focusing on prevention, preparedness, and response to combat the spread of cholera. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention listed the following preventive measures:

1. Drink and use safe water

• Bottled water with unbroken seals and canned/bottled carbonated beverages are safe to drink and use.
• Use safe water to brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, and to make ice.
• Clean food preparation areas and kitchenware with soap and safe water and let dry completely before reuse.

To be sure water is safe to drink and use:

• Boil it or treat it with a chlorine product or household bleach.
• If boiling, bring your water to a complete boil for at least 1 minute.
• To treat your water with chlorine, use one of the locally available treatment products and follow the instructions. 
• If a chlorine treatment product is not available, you can treat your water with household bleach. Add 8 drops of household bleach for every 1 gallon of water (or 2 drops of household bleach for every 1 liter of water) and wait 30 minutes before drinking.
• Always store your treated water in a clean, covered container.

*Piped water sources, drinks sold in cups or bags, or ice may not be safe and should be boiled or treated with chlorine.

2. Wash your hands often with soap and safe water

• Before you eat or prepare food
• Before feeding your children
• After using the latrine or toilet
• After cleaning your child’s bottom
• After taking care of someone ill with diarrhea

* If no soap is available, scrub hands often with ash or sand and rinse with safe water.

3. Use latrines or bury your faeces; do not defecate in any body of water

• Use latrines or other sanitation systems, like chemical toilets, to dispose of feces.
• Wash hands with soap and safe water after defecating.
• Clean latrines and surfaces contaminated with feces using a solution of 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water.

What if I don’t have a latrine or chemical toilet?

• Defecate at least 30 meters away from any body of water and then bury your feces.
• Dispose of plastic bags containing feces in latrines, at collection points if available, or bury it in the ground. Do not put plastic bags in chemical toilets.
• Dig new latrines or temporary pit toilets at least a half-meter deep and at least 30 meters away from any body of water.

4. Cook food well (especially seafood), keep it covered, eat it hot, and peel fruits and vegetables

• Boil it, Cook it, Peel it, or Leave it.
• Be sure to cook shellfish (like crabs and crayfish) until they are very hot all the way through.

*Avoid raw foods other than fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself.

5. Clean up safely—in the kitchen and in places where the family bathes and washes clothes

• Wash yourself, your children, diapers, and clothes, 30 meters away from drinking water sources.

References:

-www.cdc.gov/cholera/prevention.html

-www.medicinenet.com

-www.who.int/topics/cholera/en/

-www.wikipedia.org/wiki/chlorea