CHOLERA IS DEADLY: Clean Water is Healthy and Helpful

Cholera is a dangerous infection of the gastrointestinal system caused by a bacteria known as vibrio cholerae. It is thought that the traditional home of cholera is in eastern province of India known as West Bengal. Never mind being attacked by a Bengal tiger, if you're traveling through eastern India you're far more likely to be attacked by the cholera bacteria. However, this bacteria is responsible for many pandemics throughout the world. It is certainly not isolated to the Indian subcontinent.



Cholera is a highly contagious bacteria which is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. This is a medical term that simply means that bacteria can be transmitted by touching people, food, or water which may be infected. Water that is contaminated with the cholera bacteria is a major method of transmission. Many types of food, especially uncooked food, can contain the cholera bacteria. Crowded and unsanitary conditions seen in many countries will contribute to the spread of cholera.

The cholera bacteria has an interesting method of producing its effects. Once the cholera bacteria penetrates into the intestine of the person, it begins to proliferate and produces a toxin. This toxin causes your intestine to secrete massive amounts of fluid into your gut. This fluid is so dilute and watery that it becomes diarrhea. People infected with the cholera bacteria will have diarrhea so severe that death is most commonly due to dehydration. You simply lose so much of fluid in the diarrhea that it can kill you. Children and the elderly are especially at risk for this.

There is an incubation period for a cholera infection. The incubation period can be as short as a few hours or up to a week. Most people with a cholera infection will have very mild illness which is difficult to distinguish from most other common causes of diarrhea. Doctors have a descriptive term for the diarrhea caused by a cholera infection. It is classically referred to as "rice water" stools. This is because the diarrhea closely resembles small flecks of rice, which are actually mucus, floating in a bowl of really nasty looking water. It's not a pretty image.

If proper support and treatment is not provided during the diarrhea stage, a cholera infection can rapidly become very dangerous. When enough water is lost from the body by the diarrhea, a person can go into circulatory shock. Shock is a medical term used to define a state where a person is not getting enough blood flow to their organs. Symptoms include and elevated

heart rate, cold and clammy skin, very low blood pressure, and even a slight bluish tinge of your fingers and toes. A person will typically not urinate much when they're severely dehydrated. Children can have seizures. Muscle cramping can be quite common. If the dehydration gets severe enough kidney failure as possible as well.

Treatment of a cholera infection primarily involves keeping the patient properly hydrated. With proper hydration and good medical care the mortality rate for a cholera infection is less than 1%. Rehydration can be provided by getting the person to drink as much as possible, however in severe cases IV fluids must be given as well. IV fluids are extremely important for people who are suffering from symptoms of shock, and can be the difference between life and death.

Antibiotics are often given for a cholera infection as well. An antibiotic called tetracycline is commonly used to control a cholera infection. There is a vaccine available for cholera. The vaccine is typically only given to people who are at risk for contracting cholera. It should be noted that there are some strains of cholera which are not covered by the vaccine.

Cholera infections have played a significant role in the history of many societies. Massive pandemics can often spread rapidly through communities, causing a tremendous amount of damage to the people of the community. Proper sanitation, hand washing, and food preparation are key to controlling cholera outbreaks. Cholera is an infection where prevention of an outbreak is very important, as the high level of contagion makes it difficult to control once it is gained a foothold in the community.


Cholera treatment must take place very swiftly because a cholera victim can die within a few short hours of contracting this life threatening disease. According to the Mayo Clinic without treatment more than half of the cholera infected people will die. However with proper treatment the list of fatalities falls to less than one percent. Cholera treatment consists of first identifying the victim who may live in a war torn country, or a famine stricken area of the world. Due to unsanitary drinking water and food, the victim may already have dehydration due to vomiting and severe diarrhea that goes along with this disease.

Cholera is an illness that comes on very quickly and must be taken care just as swiftly. According to Medline Plus and the Mayo Clinic, Cholera is a bacterial disease that spreads through contaminated water and contaminated food such as shellfish and raw oysters. The disease also spreads from one victim to another very fast and must be contained so that entire villages are not wiped out. A person contracts the illness by ingesting the water that has not been sanitized due to war, famine, and over crowded living conditions. Cholera causes massive diarrhea, and hydration. When this disease is left untreated the cholera victim can die within several hours.

Treatment consists mainly of focusing on hydrating the cholera victim. Fluids and electrolytes need to be replaced that were lost during the many episodes of vomiting and diarrhea the victim will experience. The patient may be able to drink fluids such as a dehydration solution. When there is severe dehydration, intravenous fluids may be necessary to rehydrate the cholera victim.

The World Health Organization, (WHO), according to Medline Plus, has developed an oral rehydration solution consisting of salt, water and sugar to replace the lost fluids. WHO has made this hydration solution available around the globe to suffering cholera victims.

According to the Mayo Clinic, antibiotics are also necessary for proper cholera treatment. Antibiotics may shorten the duration of the cholera, and decrease vomiting. Antibiotics such as Azithromycin may help to contain this easily spread disease.

The last major outbreak of cholera in the United States occurred in 1911 before sanitary sewers were the norm. Modern sewage and water treatment plants have virtually eliminated cholera in industrialized countries, thus providing immediate treatment. However cholera is still present in Asia, India, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Treatment also consists of making the cholera victim as comfortable as possible. The patient may go into shock due to the loss of fluids, and may experience the blood pressure coming down very fast. Therefore the victim may become lightheaded and pass out. Warm blankets, and a comfortable cot will do the trick.

It is important to seek medical attention immediately when cholera is suspected due to the possibility of death from the fast moving symptoms. A person will have muscle cramps vomiting, diarrhea, dry mouth, lethargy, and a headache. According to the Mayo Clinic, zinc supplements may shorten the duration of diarrhea in children with cholera.
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