Cholera- An Intestinal Infectious Disease From Centuries

Cholera is highly communicable disease, which is caused due to bacteria V cholerae. It is a comma-shaped, gram-negative aerobic bacillus organism that was first discovered by Robert Koch in 1883 during an outbreak in Egypt.

Cholera is identified to be one of the most fatal diseases in its intense manifestation. A healthy person may become serious within an hour of the onset of symptoms and may die within 2-3 hours if no treatment is provided. More commonly, the disease progresses from the first liquid stool to shock in 4-12 hours, with death following in 18 hours to several days. When cholera occurs, the patient may lose gallons of protein-free fluid and associated electrolytes, bicarbonates and ions within a day or two. This loss of fluid leads to dehydration, anuria, acidosis and shock. The rapid dehydration leaves cholera patients weak and thirsty, their arms and legs grow cold and clammy, and powerful cramps seem to shrivel their limbs and tie them in knots. The tips of their tongues and their lips turn blue, their eyes sink back into their sockets, and their skin hangs limply on their bodies. Generally cholera outbursts occur when the feces of an infected person contaminate the water supply. Others then contract the potentially life-threatening infection by drinking the water or eating tainted food. Cholera can be successfully treated by instant substitute of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhea. Patients can be treated with oral dehydration solution.

Cholera has smoked in an endemic fashion on the Indian subcontinent for centuries. The disease spread rapidly to other countries of eastern Asia and reached Bangladesh in 1963, India in 1964, and the USSR, Iran and Iraq in 1965-1966.In 1970 cholera invaded West Africa, which had not experienced the disease for more than 100 years. . In 1991 cholera hit Latin America, where it had also been absent for more than a century. Cholera is exceptional in the United States but common in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In 2002, Cholera showed its aggression worldwide. 52 countries reported a total of 142,311 cases and 4564 deaths.

Developed countries have appropriate preventive measures but developing countries are still facing great threat of cholera because contamination of water by human excrement is a daily hazard. Continuous care, observation awareness program and good education can minimize the spread of such dreaded disease.