Cholera is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
It primarily affects the small intestine and is characterized by:

• Sudden onset of severe watery diarrhea (often described as “rice-water stools”)
• Vomiting
• Rapid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance

the causes of cholera

Environmental & Social Causes

• Unsafe drinking water (polluted rivers, wells, or municipal supply)
• Poor sanitation systems (open defecation, leaking sewage, flooding)
• Natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, cyclones → breakdown of water and sanitation systems)
• Refugee camps / overcrowding (rapid spread due to lack of infrastructure)
• Climate change & seasonal changes (warmer water favors Vibrio growth, rainy seasons cause contamination)

Food-related Causes

• Contaminated food (especially raw or undercooked seafood, shellfish, and vegetables washed with unsafe water)
• Street food prepared in unhygienic conditions
• Poor food storage in hot climates

Host-related Causes (make people more vulnerable)

• Low stomach acid (due to medications like antacids, or conditions like achlorhydria)
• Malnutrition (weakens immunity and gut defenses)
• Weakened immune system (infants, elderly, chronically ill)

The symptoms of cholera:

Typical Symptoms

• Profuse watery diarrhea (often described as “rice-water stools”)
• Vomiting (may be clear or watery)
• Rapid dehydration due to fluid loss

Signs of Dehydration

• Intense thirst
• Dry mouth and tongue
• Sunken eyes
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Little or no urine output
• Muscle cramps (from loss of salts/electrolytes)
• Weakness, dizziness, fatigue

Severe / Advanced Symptoms

• Shock (very low blood pressure, weak pulse)
• Confusion or irritability
• Collapse (in severe cases, death can occur within hours if untreated)

The treatment of cholera:

1. Immediate Treatment

• Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS):
  • The most important and lifesaving treatment.
  • A mixture of clean water, salt, and sugar that replaces lost fluids.
  • Saves 80–90% of patients if given early.
• Intravenous (IV) fluids:
  • For patients with severe dehydration who cannot drink enough.

2. Medications

• Antibiotics:
  • Shorten the duration of diarrhea and reduce fluid loss.
  • Common options: doxycycline, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin (choice depends on resistance in the area).
• Zinc supplements:
  • Especially useful in children; reduce the severity and duration of diarrhea.

3. Supportive Care

• Nutritional support: continue feeding (especially breastfeeding in infants).
• Monitoring: regular checking of hydration status, urine output, and electrolytes.

4. Prevention (part of long-term control)

• Safe drinking water
• Good sanitation and hygiene
• Cholera vaccination in high-risk areas