29 Oct 2024        15:09:38 pm

Biology

Cholera

Tags : Cholera

Topic: Diseases

Why in the news?

• Cholera is spreading in war-torn Sudan, killing at least 388 people and making about 13,000 others sick over the past two months, health authorities said, as more than 17 months of fighting between the military and a paramilitary group shows no sign of abating.

Source: The Hindu 

About Cholera:

• It is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
• It results in severe diarrhea and dehydration. 
• Left untreated, cholera can be fatal within hours, even in previously healthy people.
• The disease is most common in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine. Cholera outbreaks are more common in warm climates.
• Cholera is often predictable and preventable. It can ultimately be eliminated where access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as good hygiene practices, are ensured and sustained for the whole population.
• Symptoms:
  • Its symptoms can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection.
  • Often, symptoms are mild. But sometimes they are very serious.
  • About one in 20 people infected have severe watery diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration. This can lead to death if left untreated.
• Treatment:
  • Currently, there are three WHO pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines (OCV), Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol-Plus. All three vaccines require two doses for full protection.
  • Treatment for cholera can include:
    • Rehydration therapy
    • Antibiotics
    • Zinc supplementation for children

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