Cholera
Cholera is an acute infectious disease caused by a bacterium, vibrio cholerae which is usually results in a watery diarrhea in human.
Symptoms
Symptoms and sign include
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Severe vomiting
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Watery diarrhea
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Rice-water stools
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Fever
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Low or no urine output
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Weight loss
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Dehydration
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Low blood pressure
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Dizziness or lightheadness
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Fast heart beat.
Causes
The cholera bacterium called Vibrio cholerae is usually found in water or food sources that have been contaminated by feces from a person infected with cholera. Cholera is most likely to be found and spread in places with inadequate water treatment, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene.
Risk factors
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Poor sanitary conditions
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Reduced or non-existent stomach acid
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Household exposure
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Type of blood
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Raw or under cooked shellfish.
Prevention
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Wash hands with soap and water frequently
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Drink only safe water
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Eat food that's completely cooked and hot
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Stick to fruits and Vegetables that you can peel yourself.
Treatment
It is normally dehydration that leads to death from cholera, so the most important treatment is to give oral hydration solution (ORS), also known as oral rehydration therapy (ORT). The treatment consists of large volumes of water mixed with a blend of sugar and salts.
Culled from Staywellworld blog post dated March 8, 2017.
To learn more, click on
https://www.staywellworld.org/single-post/2017/03/08/STAMPING-OUT-CHOLERA-DISEASE
