cholera
Sign in to saveCholera () is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea lasting a few days. Vomiting and muscle cramps may also occur. Diarrhea can be so severe that it leads within hours to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. This can in turn result in sunken eyes, cold or cyanotic skin, decreased skin elasticity, wrinkling of the hands and feet, and, in severe cases, death. Symptoms start two hours to five days after exposure.
AI overview
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine caused by certain strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which can produce severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps. It matters because the diarrhea can cause life-threatening dehydration and electrolyte imbalance within hours, potentially leading to death if untreated.
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Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Cholera
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- Asiatic cholera, epidemic cholera
- Medical condition (new).image
- PHIL 1939 lores.jpg
- Medical condition (new).caption
- A person with severe dehydration due to cholera, causing sunken eyes and wrinkled hands and skin
- Medical condition (new).field
- Infectious disease
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Large amounts of watery diarrhea, vomiting, muscle cramps
- Medical condition (new).complications
- Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance
- Medical condition (new).onset
- 2 hours to 5 days after exposure
- Medical condition (new).duration
- A few days
- Medical condition (new).causes
- Vibrio cholerae spread by fecal–oral route
- Medical condition (new).risks
- Poor sanitation, lack of clean water, poverty
Article
36 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Cause
- Transmission
- Susceptibility
- Mechanism
- Genetic structure
- Antibiotic resistance
- Diagnosis
- Prevention
- Water, sanitation and hygiene
- Surveillance
- Vaccination
- Sari filtration
- Treatment
- Fluids
- Electrolytes
- Antibiotics
- Zinc supplementation
- Prognosis
- Epidemiology
- History of outbreaks
- Research
- Global Strategy
- Society and culture
- Health policy
- Notable cases
- In popular culture
- Country examples
- Zambia
- Nigeria
- India
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Explanatory notes
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Cholera () is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea lasting a few days. Vomiting and muscle cramps may also occur. Diarrhea can be so severe that it leads within hours to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. This can in turn result in sunken eyes, cold or cyanotic skin, decreased skin elasticity, wrinkling of the hands and feet, and, in severe cases, death. Symptoms start two hours to five days after exposure.
Cholera is caused by a number of types of Vibrio cholerae, with some types producing more severe disease than others. It is spread mostly by unsafe water and unsafe food that has been contaminated with human feces containing the bacteria. Undercooked shellfish is a common source. Humans are the only known host for the bacteria. Risk factors for the disease include poor sanitation, insufficient clean drinking water, and poverty. Cholera can be diagnosed by a stool test, or a rapid dipstick test, although the dipstick test is less accurate.