8/2/2019 PHC Report
1/14
Choleracommunicable disease
8/2/2019 PHC Report
2/14
What is cholera? Cholera is an acute infectious disease caused by a
bacterium, Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae) Most people who get the disease ingest the organisms
through food or water sources contaminated with V.cholerae.
8/2/2019 PHC Report
3/14
What is cholera?
which results in a painless, watery diarrhea inhumans.
Some affected individuals have copious amounts ofdiarrhea and develop dehydration so severe it can
lead to death.
Although symptoms may be mild, approximately5%-10% of previously healthy people will develop acopious diarrhea within about one to five days after
ingesting the bacteria. Severe disease requires prompt medical care.
8/2/2019 PHC Report
4/14
Signs and Symptoms watery diarrhea that often contains flecks of whitish
material (mucus and some epithelial cells) that areabout the size of pieces of rice. smells "fishy." Thevolume of diarrhea can be enormous;
vomiting
rapid heart rate
loss of skin elasticity
dry mucous membranes
low blood pressure
Thirst
muscle cramps
restlessness or irritability (especially in children)
8/2/2019 PHC Report
5/14
Mode of Transmission
By drinking water or eating foodcontaminated with the cholera bacterium,Vibrio cholerae.
the source of the contamination is usuallythe feces of an infected person. Thedisease can spread rapidly in areas withinadequate treatment of sewage and
drinking water. Cholera has been found in only two other animal
populations: shellfish and plankton.
8/2/2019 PHC Report
6/14
Mode of Transmission
The cholera bacterium may also live inthe environment in brackish rivers andcoastal waters.
Shellfish eaten raw have been asource of cholera, and a few personsin the United States have contractedcholera after eating raw orundercooked shellfish from the Gulf ofMexico.
8/2/2019 PHC Report
7/14
Communicability
The disease is not likely to spreaddirectly from one person to another;therefore, casual contact with an
infected person is not a risk forbecoming ill.
8/2/2019 PHC Report
8/14
8/2/2019 PHC Report
9/14
Cholera outbreaks
England had several in the 18th century, mostnotable being in 1854, when Dr. John Snow did aclassic study in London that showed a mainsource of the disease (resulting in about 500deaths in 10 days) came from at least one of the
major water sources for London residents termedthe "Broad Street pump." The pump handle wasremoved, and the cholera deaths slowed andstopped. The pump is still present as a landmarkin London. Although Dr. Snow did not discover
the cause of cholera, he did show how thedisease could be spread and how to stop a localoutbreak. This was the beginning of modernepidemiologic studies.
8/2/2019 PHC Report
10/14
Cholera outbreaks
V. cholerae was first isolated as thecause of cholera by Filippo Pacini in1854, but his discovery was not widely
known until Robert Koch (who alsodiscovered the cause of tuberculosis),working independently 30 years later,
publicized the knowledge and themeans of fighting the disease.
8/2/2019 PHC Report
11/14
Patoglomonic Sign
rice-watery stool
8/2/2019 PHC Report
12/14
Treatment
The main treatment for cholera is fluidand electrolyte replacement, both oraland IV. Antibiotics usually are used in
severe infections where dehydrationhas occurred.
Hydration (usually by IV for the very ill)
of the patient is the key to surviving thedisease
8/2/2019 PHC Report
13/14
Patient condition Treatment
No dehydrationOral rehydration salts(ORS)
Some dehydrationOral rehydration salts(amount in first four hours)
Severe dehydration
IV drips of Ringer Lactateor, if not available, normalsaline and oral rehydrationsalts as outlined above
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=72561http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=72561http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=72561http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=725618/2/2019 PHC Report
14/14
Management
Cholera can be prevented withappropriate measures such as
safe drinking water and non contaminatedfoods;
some protection can be obtained from oralvaccines while avoiding areas wherecholera commonly occurs or has had a
recent outbreak. Proper handwashing
Proper sanitation
Foods should be well cooked.