Cholera
Cholera is a disease that is not usually found in many countries. However, it can still be found in third-world countries and highly populated areas. Cholera is a bacterial disease. The symptoms of this disease can range from diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. Many individuals with mild cases may not even realize they have been exposed to this disease. Severe cases can lead to death if left untreated. There are several ways a person can be treated for this bacterial disease. The initial goal is to rehydrate the patient. This can be done in several ways. However, using intravenous fluids through an I.V. is the most common way to achieve this goal. Antibiotics and supplements of zinc will also help eliminate the bacteria and reduce the symptoms of this condition. People traveling to foreign countries can do several things to help reduce the chances of acquiring this disease. The most important thing for an individual to do is to wash their hands frequently with hot water and soap.
Drinking bottled water instead of the local water supply is another step to preventing cholera. Avoiding uncooked and undercooked foods, such as sushi and meats, is another way to avoid contamination. People should be aware that this disease's symptoms are similar to other ailments. However, anyone who suspects they have been exposed to this disease should seek medical attention as soon as possible. A person who is treated quickly will often avoid experiencing severe symptoms of cholera. These individuals will also decrease their chances of spreading the disease to others.
Symptoms
Many people exposed to the virus do not know they have been infected as they do not fall sick after getting it. But they have already shed the bacteria of cholera in their stool for one to two weeks. So, they can still infect other people through the water that is now contaminated. Several cases of cholera cause symptoms in the body that include moderate or mild diarrhea that is hard to tell apart from regular diarrhea caused by other issues in the body. Other people get more serious signals and symptoms of the disease. This typically happens within the first few days of getting the virus. The symptoms of cholera can include diarrhea, as mentioned. This can come on suddenly and can lead to a lot of loss of fluid from the body. This can be as much as a liter every hour. Any such symptoms of cholera have a milky and pale appearance that looks like water in which rice has been rinsed. The other issue is vomiting and nausea. This happens in the initial phase of cholera and can stay on for many days. Dehydration can take place within some hours after the symptoms of cholera start. They range from severe to mild. Any loss of one-tenth or more of the weight of the body shows that there might be a lot of dehydration in the body.
The symptoms or signals of the disease include extreme thirst, a dry mouth, sunken eyes, fatigue, and irritability. There might also be shriveled and dry skin that is very slow to bounce back when pinched. Some people may also have irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, and little or no urination. Any dehydration caused by the disease can cause a swift loss of minerals in the blood that maintain the overall balance of fluids in the body. This is known as an electrolyte imbalance.
Electrolyte Imbalance Caused by Cholera
Any imbalance in electrolytes in the body due to this illness can lead to serious symptoms and signals that include muscle cramps and shock. The muscle cramps can be caused by the swift loss of salts such as potassium, chloride, and sodium. Shock is one of the most complicated issues of dehydration. It happens when the blood volume in the body becomes low and causes a decline in the blood pressure and the amount of oxygen in the body. If this condition is left untreated, there can be a severe hypovolemic shock that can cause the death of a person within a few minutes.
Causes
This infection in the body is caused by a bacterium. This bacterium creates a toxin in the small intestine that leads to all the effects caused by the disease. The toxin causes the body to secrete large amounts of water. This causes the body to let out large amounts of water. This causes diarrhea and a swift loss of salts and fluids in the body. The bacteria that cause cholera may not cause sickness in all the people exposed to it. But they still pass on the bacteria in their stool. This can lead to contamination of the water and food supplies. The water supplies that are contaminated are the main causes of cholera. The bacterium that causes the disease can be found in well or surface water. The public wells that are contaminated are major sources of cholera infection. The individuals living in highly crowded conditions without adequate sanitation are more at risk. Eating undercooked or raw seafood from specific places can expose the consumer to bacteria.
Some of the recent cases of infection in the country have been traced to seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. Vegetables and fruits that are unpeeled and raw are also a major source of infection in areas where cholera is already present. In developing nations, the irrigation water or uncompacted manure that contains raw sewage can contaminate the produce on the farms.
Conclusion
You may be a little concerned after reading about the symptoms and effects of this disease. But you do not have to worry a lot. The chances of getting cholera are not very high in nations that are already industrialized. Even in a prevalent location, you are not very likely to become infected with the bacteria if you follow all the food safety recommendations. Still, there are cases of cholera that keep happening throughout the globe. You should consult a healthcare provider if you go to an active cholera location and get severe diarrhea after it.
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