Cholera - Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Cholera is a deadly infection of the small intestine causing severe amounts of watery diarrhea and vomiting. Additional symptoms include abdominal cramping, dry mouth, constant thirst, sunken eyes, nausea, low urine output, and lethargy. Diarrhea caused by cholera will often resemble water with speckles and may have a "fishy" odor. According to the World Health Organization, about 75% of infected individuals show no symptoms, but because the pathogens responsible for the illness can stay in feces for seven to fourteen days it is not uncommon for the pathogens to be shed back into the environment and potentially infect others. If left untreated, cholera may result in death in as little as four to twelve hours. The risk of death is much greater in countries were children are malnourished and people suffer from diseases such as malaria or HIV.

The bacteria responsible for cholera is Vibrio cholerae. In areas where sanitation is poor, V. cholerae can be ingested via contaminated food and water. Once ingested, the bacterium colonizes the small intestines. While in the intestinal wall the bacterium produce toxic proteins creating an ion imbalance in the intestine that results in excess water and salts to be excreted. This increased release of water in the intestine results in acute watery diarrhea.

The majority of patients afflicted by cholera can be treated with oral rehydration therapy. Those severely suffering from the illness may need intravenous fluids. Antibiotics can also be used in treatment to reduce the duration and severity of the illness although some strains of V.cholerae have shown increased resistance to antibiotics.

In preventing cholera, the best method is to advance proper sanitation practices. Having clean water and health education is critical in reducing the impact of this illness. Many charities and non-profit organizations are tackling the cholera endemic by providing clean water to villages. The non-profit organization Defy Thirst has installed water filtration systems, given personal hygiene classes, and provided hygiene items to individuals in numerous countries. Travelers are advised to treat water with chlorine or iodine, avoid raw fruits and vegetables, thoroughly cook all food, and to frequently wash their hands.

To learn more about the organization mentioned visit http://defythirst.org

Another great resource on water-borne illnesses is http://cdc.gov