According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cases of cholera have become a matter of concern in recent years. The number of people infected and dying from it also continues to increase. These figures are frightening because this disease wreaked havoc all over the world in the 19th and 20th centuries. At that time, Indian villages were being destroyed by cholera.
This disease, which appeared in Bengal, India, in the early 19th century, began to spread in the mid-20th century and took the entire world under its control. Until 1961, it caused a total of 6 epidemics, during which thousands of people lost their lives. After that, the seventh pandemic started from South Asia in 1961, reached Africa in 1971 and America in 1991.
Even in 2024, the graph of cholera figures increases. This could be a matter of greater concern for India as cleanliness and hygiene remain a major problem there and may also become the main reason for the spread of cholera.
The monsoon is about to end, but many parts of the country are still grappling with floods and floods. In such a situation, cholera can pose a significant threat in towns and villages located along rivers and ponds.
so today’In the medical file“I’m going to talk about cholera. You will also learn that-
Why are his latest numbers scary? How to recognize the symptoms of cholera? What are the treatment and prevention measures?
What is cholera? Cholera is an infectious disease caused by a bacteria called Vibrio Cholerae. This bacteria can be spread through water, food or any other contaminated environment.
Most people with cholera have very few or no symptoms. However, some people may experience severe diarrhea and dehydration.
All of these serious cases require immediate treatment. If treatment is delayed even by a few hours, it can lead to the death of the patient. Even if a person is completely healthy, severe cholera can lead to death within a few hours.
What do the WHO figures say? According to the World Health Organization, in 2022, about 5.5 million people were infected with cholera, while about 2.5 thousand people died. These figures are double compared to the year 2021.
After this, in 2023, the infected cases increased to over 5 lakh 30 thousand, while over 4 thousand people died. In this, the World Health Organization estimates that the real figures could be much higher than the recorded cases. He estimates that around 1,000,000 people die each year from cholera. What is concerning is that the graph is increasing every year.
What are the symptoms of cholera? Usually, even if they are infected with cholera bacteria, people do not know it. The reason is that most people don’t see any symptoms. According to the World Health Organization, people with symptoms of the disease usually develop symptoms 12 hours to 5 days after infection. Meanwhile, other people can also get infected through these people. What are its symptoms, see in the chart below.
Cholera can be fatal for 10% of people Because of cholera, the problem of diarrhea and vomiting begins. For this reason, there may be a deficiency of these important elements in the body:
ElectrolytesFluids, i.e. body water (the human body is 60% water)SodiumPotassium
This can cause serious health problems, including death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 10% of all infected cholera cases may have severe symptoms.
How is cholera diagnosed?
There is a bacterial difference between cholera and ordinary diarrhea. There is a bacteria in the body of a cholera patient, the scientific name of which is Vibrio Cholerae. A stool test is performed to detect its presence. through a microscope. In places where cholera is more prevalent, doctors use a “dipstick” tool. Using this tool, bacteria can be detected by testing the stool immediately.
What is the treatment for cholera? If symptoms of infection appear, immediate treatment is necessary. During this period, the most important thing is to prevent dehydration and compensate for the resulting lack of water in the body. Therefore, doctors adopt the following methods for this:
First, oral rehydration salt is administered mixed with water. Usually, doctors recommend taking an ORS solution for this. In cases of severe dehydration, a drip may also be given for rehydration. Antibiotics are given to kill the bacteria causing the infection. To overcome zinc deficiency, supplements are given.
These treatments increase the amount of fluid in the body and compensate for the electrolyte deficit. This helps reduce the frequency of diarrhea and vomiting.
What are the ways to prevent cholera?
Prevention of any disease is better than cure. Especially in diseases where the risk of death is high, prevention is the best solution.
To prevent cholera, the most important thing is to wash your hands from time to time. Use soap or hand wash for this. If you are in a place where soap and water are not available, you can use an alcohol-based sanitizer. Apart from this, what to keep in mind, see the chart below.