Cholera is a serious inflammatory disease that affects the intestines. The incubation period of this bacteria is very short, ranging between 7-14 days, after which it is excreted into the bloodstream in more severe cases. Most people infected with Vibrio cholerae do not develop symptoms at all despite the presence of the bacteria in their bodies. . in the cases that appear
In which symptoms of cholera appear in about 80% - 90% of patients, only minor symptoms, while 20% of infected people develop severe symptoms that are likely to worsen to the point of death.
The main cause of death due to cholera is the loss of body fluids by secretions from the intestines and by vomiting. In most cases, cholera usually begins suddenly without any warning signs.
Cholera symptoms
The most prominent symptoms include the following
Fast and weak heart rate.
Loss of skin elasticity i.e. no ability to return to the original position quickly if pinched.
Dry mucous membranes including the inside of the mouth, throat, nose and eyelids.
Reduction of Blood pressure.
thirst.
muscle cramps
limb spasm
Superficial and rapid breathing.
Causes and risk factors for cholera
The following is an explanation of the most prominent causes and risk factors for the disease:
1. Causes of cholera
Vibrio cholera, the bacteria that causes cholera, is usually found in food or water contaminated with the stool of an infected person. Common sources include:
Municipal water supply.
Snow made from municipal water.
Food and drinks sold by street vendors.
Vegetables irrigated with water containing human waste.
Raw or undercooked fish and seafood caught in waters contaminated with sewage.
2. Risk factors for cholera
The most prominent risk factors include
Poor sanitary conditions
Cholera is more likely to thrive in situations where it is difficult to maintain a healthy environment, including a safe water supply. Such conditions are common in refugee camps, poor countries, and areas stricken by famine, war, or natural disasters.
Low or no stomach acid
Cholera bacteria cannot survive in an acidic environment and normal stomach acid often acts as a line of defense against infection, but people with low levels of stomach acid such as children, the elderly, and people taking antacids or proton pump inhibitors lack this protection, so they are more susceptible infected with cholera.
home exposure
You are at increased risk of cholera if you live with someone who has the disease.
type O blood
For reasons that aren''t entirely clear, people with type O blood are twice as likely to contract cholera as people with other blood types.
Raw or undercooked shellfish
Although industrialized countries no longer suffer from widespread cholera outbreaks, eating shellfish from waters known to harbor the bacteria increases your risk.
Complications of cholera
Cholera can quickly become fatal in severe cases, as the rapid loss of large amounts of fluids and electrolytes can lead to death within hours, but in less serious cases, people who do not receive treatment can die of dehydration and shock hours to days after the onset of cholera symptoms. for the first time.
Although shock and severe dehydration are the worst complications of cholera, other complications can occur such as:
1. Low blood sugar
Dangerously low levels of blood sugar, which is the body''s main source of energy, can occur when people become too ill to eat. Children are most at risk of these complications, which can cause seizures, unconsciousness, and even death.
2. Low levels of potassium
People with cholera lose large amounts of minerals, including potassium, in their feces. Very low levels of potassium interfere with heart and nerve function and are life-threatening.
3. Kidney failure
When the kidneys lose their filtering ability, excess fluid and some electrolytes and waste build up in the body, which can be a life-threatening condition. Kidney failure often accompanies shock in people with cholera.
Diagnosis of cholera
Although signs and symptoms of severe cholera can be evident in areas where it is common, the only way to confirm a diagnosis is to identify the bacteria in a stool sample.
Rapid cholera scale tests enable clinicians in remote areas to quickly confirm a cholera diagnosis. Rapid confirmation helps lower mortality rates at the onset of cholera outbreaks and leads to early public health interventions to control outbreaks.
Cholera treatment
Cholera requires immediate treatment because the disease can cause death within hours, and the most prominent treatments include the following:
1. Rehydration
The goal is to replace lost fluids and electrolytes with an oral saline solution. The solution is available as a powder that can be made with boiled water or bottled.
Without rehydration, nearly half of all people with cholera die, but with treatment, deaths fall to less than 1%.
2. Intravenous fluids
Most people with cholera can be helped with oral rehydration alone, but people who are severely dehydrated may also need intravenous fluids.
3. Antibiotics
Although not an essential part of cholera treatment, some antibiotics can reduce cholera-related diarrhea and shorten how long it lasts in seriously ill people.
4. Zinc supplementation
