Table of Contents
What happens if cholera is not treated?
People with severe cholera can develop severe dehydration, which can lead to kidney failure. If left untreated, severe dehydration can lead to shock, coma, and death within hours.
How long does cholera last untreated?
Cholera is an extremely virulent disease that can cause severe acute watery diarrhoea. It takes between 12 hours and 5 days for a person to show symptoms after ingesting contaminated food or water (2). Cholera affects both children and adults and can kill within hours if untreated.
What is the death rate of untreated cholera?
If left untreated, cholera has a 25-50% mortality rate. Treatment reduces this to less than 1%. Bacteriological diagnosis of cholera is reasonably easy because cholera bacteria are abundant in stool.
What are the stages of cholera?
A typical case of cholera shows 3 stages :
- Stage of evacuation.
- 2 Stage of collapse.
- Stage of collapse.
- Stage of recovery.
What organs are affected by cholera?
A bacterium called Vibrio cholerae causes cholera infection. The deadly effects of the disease are the result of a toxin the bacteria produces in the small intestine. The toxin causes the body to secrete enormous amounts of water, leading to diarrhea and a rapid loss of fluids and salts (electrolytes).
What happens if a person is left untreated for cholera?
Cholera causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. Left untreated, cholera can be fatal within hours, even in previously healthy people. Modern sewage and water treatment have virtually eliminated cholera in industrialized countries.
How are people with cholera treated without rehydration?
Without rehydration, approximately half the people with cholera die. With treatment, fatalities drop to less than 1%. Intravenous fluids. Most people with cholera can be helped by oral rehydration alone, but severely dehydrated people might also need intravenous fluids.
How many cases of cholera are there each year?
Researchers have estimated that each year there are 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of cholera, and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths worldwide due to cholera (1) Most of those infected will have no or mild symptoms and can be successfully treated with oral rehydration solution. Severe cases will need rapid treatment with intravenous fluids and antibiotics.
When to go to the doctor for cholera?
Seek immediate medical care if you develop severe diarrhea or vomiting and are in or have very recently returned from a country where cholera occurs. If you believe you may have been exposed to cholera, but your symptoms are not severe, call your family doctor.