CHOLERA is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated.
It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called vibrio cholerae.
It’s a disease that affects the bowels and, in its most severe form, is characterised by acute watery diarrhoea that can lead to immediate death through severe dehydration and kidney failure.The disease is most common in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war and famine.
Cholera can cause watery diarrhoea and vomiting, making people who have it get dehydrated quickly. When dehydration is severe, it can cause serious health problems if it’s not treated. It can even cause seizures and kidney failure. People who don’t get the proper medical treatment may even die. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 2,8 million cases of cholera (with a possible range of 1,2 to 4,3 million cases) occur annually in endemic countries, or those in which cholera is regularly found.
Here are 10 things about cholera:
Cholera is not really a tropical disease
If you really think that you cannot get cholera because you live far from tropical areas then you are wrong. Cholera spreads through contaminated food and water. There is no relationship with climate and zones. If you live near slums or are in continuous contact with contaminated food and water, there are high risks of getting cholera.
No signs and symptoms
Seventy-five percent of people infected with cholera do not exhibit any symptoms. People infected and exhibiting no symptoms can spread more infection. The majority of cholera’s victims have little-to-no symptoms, making it even more difficult to detect.
This is a huge problem as it hinders the efforts made by clinics whose job it is to make as many people healthy. So, if you’re not having any serious diarrhoea or vomiting but experience slight stomachache or no urge of eating, then go for check-up.
Cholera can be treated
Eighty percent of the cases can be successfully treated by oral rehydration solution (ORS).
It is untrue that cholera spreads only through contaminated food and water
It is found that fruits and vegetables we get from markets might contain eggs of bacteria that spreads cholera and can infect us in hygienic conditions as well.
Cholera is non-contagious
Cholera does not spread through air/inhalation, physical contact or touch. So, you can’t catch it from direct contact with another person. Hence there is no need to stay away. You can have a normal relationship with infected people.
If untreated, can kill
Cholera, if untreated, will lead to rapid dehydration can can kill in a day. There are between 21 000-143 000 deaths per year only due to cholera.
Mild diarrhoea is not always indigestion, it can be cholera
Among people developing cholera, 80 percent have mild diarrhoea. People confuse mild diarrhoea with indigestion, food poisoning and over eating, but this is not always the case. You must keep record of frequent diarrhoeas.
Safe and effective oral vaccines are now part of cholera controlling packages
There are three types of vaccines available. They can provide upto 65 percent protection from cholera for about five years.
Vaccines are now available for cholera.
Proper sanitation can prevent cholera
It is found that proper sanitation can prevent 80 percent of cholera cases. So, prevention is in our hands.
Survillence can be used as protection
One of the best ways to stop the disease is to use surveillance systems. These can help in the sense that more of an understanding can be made about which areas are more infected than others. When seasonal occurrences are observed, prevention and control must be enhanced.
Source: https://doctor.ndtv.com/living-healthy