Signs and symptoms of Cholera

Signs and symptoms of Cholera

Cholera is a bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae which can cause acute diarrhoeal infection. If left untreated this disease has enough capability to kill a patient with in few hours. It is an infection of small intestine causing severe diarrhoea which gradually leads to dehydration finally resulting into death. There are many strains of Vibrio cholerae causing cholera. The severity of the infection varies on the basis of the strain which affects the person. 1.4 to 4.3 million cases, and 28 000 to 142 000 deaths usually occurred in the world each year as a result of this disease. Oral rehydration salt is an effective substance for treatment of 80% of patients affected by this disease. This disease may also be prevented by the use oral cholera vaccine but necessary control measure should be taken to get rid of this disease. 

There is a short incubation period for 2 hours to 5 days for this disease. Places where sanitation is poor, crowed are mostly affected by this disease. There are several causes which are responsible for the outbreak of this disease: i) Municipal water supplies contaminated with the bacterium causing cholera ii) Contaminated foods and drinks sold by street vendors iii) Vegetables grown with water containing human wastes iv) Raw or undercooked fish and seafood caught in waters polluted with sewage. This disease is not being spread by general contact with the person affected by this disease but may be transmitted in to the human when the persons ingests any food which is contaminated with the bacterium, Vibrio cholerae. There are two serogroups of V. cholerae – O1 and O139. Among these two serogroups V. cholearae– O1 cause the majority of outbreaks. Non-O1 and non-O139 V. cholerae can cause mild diarrhoea but have not the capability to generate epidemics.

                     

Being a severe virulent disease the cholera may affect any person irrespective of their age which may lead to the outcome some peculiar abnormality found in the body of the persons affected by this disease. In 80% of cases no specific symptoms found though 20% of cases has some mild to severe symptoms. 

Those peculiar abnormalities are known as the symptoms of this disease which are discussed in the following:

 

• ·         Severe watery diarrhoea which is followed by vomiting, finally resulting into dehydration is the most common symptom of this disease which can be controlled by proper using of rehydration salts.
• ·         Heart rate of the affected patient increases significantly finally resulting in to the decrease of blood pressure as a result of the disease caused by the bacterium V. cholerae.
• ·         The skin loses its elasticity thus if pinched the skin takes quite time to return to its original condition.
• ·         Muscle cramp is one of the painful symptoms of this disease which may vary from person to person.
• ·         Presence of dry mucous membrane in the mouth, throat, nose, and eyelids is also a common symptom which can easily indicate the affection of this disease.
• ·         Thirst of the affected person increased significantly.
• ·         Production of urine decreases with time.