Cholera: Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis

Cholera is a water-borne infection caused by a bacteria named Vibrio Cholerae. It was first reported in India in the 19th century and is now considered a global health concern. It is mostly spread through contaminated water and, in some cases, through contaminated food.

Some commonly experienced cholera symptoms are diarrhoea and dehydration. If left untreated, the disease can quickly turn fatal, even in people with good health. However, severe complications can be avoided with proper hydration treatments and effective sanitation measures.

In this article, we’ll understand the bacterial disease cholera, its symptoms, causes and methods of prevention.

What is Cholera?

Cholera is a water-borne bacterial disease caused by consuming food or water contaminated by the Vibrio Cholerae bacteria that infects the gut. This bacterium is usually found in food or water contaminated with the faeces of an infected person. Cholera symptoms typically comprise severe diarrhoea along with dehydration, which leads to rapid loss of fluids and salts from the body.

What Causes Cholera?

Cholera is caused by the V. Cholerae bacteria entering the small intestine and releasing cholera toxin (CTX). This toxin causes significant water loss from the body.  Since cholera is a bacterial infection, it can spread through common contact. The primary sources of contracting the bacterial disease cholera are listed below:

• Using water from a contaminated water supply
• Living in poor sanitary conditions
• Consuming raw seafood, especially shellfish
• Eating unwashed fruits and vegetables

Identifying common cholera reasons is crucial to avoid exposure to environments where the disease is most likely to spread.

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Read the blog: What is Cholera? (in Hindi)

What are the Symptoms of Cholera?

Most cholera cases exhibit no symptoms or just mild ones, and it takes 12 hours to 5 days for the infection’s onset. The specific cholera symptoms to be noted are:

• Severe watery diarrhoea
• Dehydration
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Low blood pressure
• Muscle cramps

Severe dehydration is when the patient requires urgent medical attention, as it can even cause death if left unattended.

What are the Risk Factors of Cholera?

Anyone is susceptible to cholera. However, certain factors can increase the risk and severity of cholera bacterial disease. These include:

• Poor hygiene: Since cholera can spread from person to person, hygienic practices stop the spread.
• Unsanitary conditions: Conditions where faecal matter is likely to contaminate food and water increase the spread of cholera.
• Impure drinking water: An unclean water supply is a significant cause behind cholera outbreaks.
• Close contact with patients: The risk of contracting cholera is higher when living with someone already suffering from the disease.
• Low stomach acid: V. Cholerae bacteria cannot thrive in highly acidic environments, so people with low stomach acid are more susceptible to the infection.
• Blood type ‘O’: People with the ‘O’ blood group have more chances of contracting the virus as the cholera toxin responds strongly to type O blood.
• Slum conditions: Overcrowded slums without basic sanitation can also lead to the spread of cholera.

How is Cholera Diagnosed?

After identifying the symptoms, it is recommended to get tested for cholera promptly to prevent the infection from spreading. Diagnosis involves a clinical evaluation and laboratory tests to detect the traces of the disease-causing bacteria in the patient’s stool sample, along with a routine blood test.

How to Prevent Cholera?

Cholera is a highly communicable disease as it spreads from person to person. However, it is also easy to curb and control with effective preventive measures. Some recommended practices towards cholera prevention include:

• Washing hands multiple times in a day
• Avoiding consumption of unwashed raw fruits or vegetables.
• Using boiled water even for tasks like brushing teeth and preparing food
• Treating uncovered water sources, such as pools, with chlorine or bleach
• Avoiding shellfish and other seafood during an outbreak

Other than these precautions, it is also advised to receive Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) from a registered healthcare provider.

Cholera is preventable and curable, but sometimes, it can pose a severe threat if not treated properly. Ensuring hygiene and sanitary conditions, as well as recognising early symptoms, can help eliminate such severe complications. Spotting symptoms of cholera and seeking immediate healthcare also play a crucial role in facilitating effective treatment and recovery.

If an individual experiences any of the mentioned symptoms, they must consult a healthcare provider and book a cholera test with Dr Lal PathLabs for early diagnosis.

Download the Dr Lal PathLabs app now for easy test bookings.

FAQs

1.What causes cholera, virus or bacteria?

There is no such thing as a cholera virus. Cholera is caused by a bacteria named Vibrio Cholerae present in contaminated food and water. It releases a toxin in the small intestine that leads to the loss of significant fluids and salts from the body.

2.Why is cholera called the Blue Death?

Cholera is also known as the Blue Death, as severe dehydration can cause the body to take on a blue-grey tone.

3.Who is at the highest risk of getting infected by Cholera?

Children, especially those under the age of 5, are at a higher risk of catching cholera because of their underdeveloped immune systems.