Cholera, sometimes known as Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera, is an infectious gastroenteritis caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Transmission to humans occurs straight through ingesting food or water that is contaminated with cholera vibrios. The major stockroom for cholera was long assumed to be humans themselves, but indispensable evidence exists that aquatic environments can serve as reservoirs of the bacteria. In its most severe forms, cholera is one of the most rapidly fatal illnesses known, and a salutary person may become hypotensive within an hour of the onset of symptoms; infected patients may die within three hours if curative treatment is not provided. In a common scenario, the disease progresses from the first liquid stool to shock in 4 to 12 hours, with death following in 18 hours to several days unless oral rehydration is provided.
Symptoms
The most definite symptom of a cholera charge is diarrhoea. You can also suffer from rapid dehydration, rapid pulse, dry skin, tiredness, abdominal and leg cramps, nausea and vomiting.
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Treatment
Oral rehydration is vital as soon as possible. This can be water and electrolytes taken by mouth, or intravenously when necessary.
Tectracycline is the traditional anti-biotic for treatment, although others have been used when the cholera bacterium proves resistant, sometimes multi-drug treatment.
Prevention
The bedding and clothing of patients must be sterilized and care givers must fully wash their hands.
Sewage must be treated.
Warning signs must be erected near contaminated water in poor communities and directions given on how to treat it. All water should be boiled or chlorinated. Where this is not possible, even cloth filters will help.
There must be condition schooling in areas where cholera is prevalent and there should be lookout and reporting of outbreaks while the rainy season.
Susceptibility
Research suggests that definite blood types - particularly type O - are more susceptible to cholera. Types A and B are most resistant.
It takes about one million bacteria to cause an charge but those with weakened immune systems or who are malnourished are more susceptible.
Biochemistry
Many bacteria don't survive the stomach acids, but those entering the small intestine work their way straight through the mucus surface to the intestinal wall. There they yield the toxic proteins that cause the diarrhea
Transmission
Liquid diarrhea, also known as rice stool, can rapidly infect water supplies. Washing food in infected water, or shellfish from contaminated water can cause the sickness.
Diagnosis
The most productive of pathology is from stool or swab samples.
History
Cholera was originally endemic to the Indian subcontinent, with the Ganges River likely serving as a contamination reservoir. The disease spread by trade routes (land and sea) to Russia then to Western Europe, and from Europe to North America. Cholera is now no longer determined a pressing condition threat in Europe and North America due to filtering and chlorination of water supplies, but still heavily affects populations in developing countries.
There have been seven recorded cholera epidemics.
Between 1816 and 1826 it began in Bengal, then spread to Europe and London, where it caused 100,000 deaths up to 1851. It reached Russia and America, where it spread along the California and Oregon Trails where hundreds died on their way to the California Gold Rush.
Between 1852 and 1860 there were over a million deaths in Russia. It also occurred in London and Chicago.
Between 1863 and 1875 there were outbreaks in Europe, Africa and North America.
In 1892 there was a serious in the Hamburg, Germany, hospital.
Between 1899 and 1923 there were outbreaks in Russia and Turkey.
Between 1961 and 1970 there were outbreaks in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Russia, and North Africa from where it spread to Italy.
Between 1991 and 1994 there was an outbreak in South America caused from the dismissal of ballast water. In 1992 a new strain appeared in Africa.
And as recently as 2008 there has been cholera in Goma in the Congo and in Zimbabwe, from where it has been carried by refugees seeking curative treatment, to northern South Africa.
Research
A link in the middle of contaminated water and cholera was discovered in 1854 by John Snow. There has been continuous research into the biochemistry of the bacterium.
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