Cholera

1. 1:10 solution (contains 0.5% chlorine concentration) is used to clean blood spills which is
0.5 hypochlorite solution per 1 litre of water.
1:100 bleach solution (contains 0.05% of chlorine concentrate) is used to clean ordinary
surfaces. It is 0.5 hypochlorite solution per 10 litres of water.
2. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated. It is
caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholera.
Cholera remains a threat to public health and an indicator of inequity and lack of social
development.

Signs and symptoms of cholera:

 Dehydration: - develop within hours after cholera symptoms start. Symptoms include
fatigue, sunken eyes, dry mouth and extreme thirst. Dehydration ranges from mild to
severe.
 Diarrhoea: - often has a pale, milky appearance that resembles rice water.
 Nausea: - vomiting occurs especially in early stages of cholera and lasts for hours.
 Fishy odour stools
 Rapid heart rate
 Loss of skin elasticity
 Low blood pressure
 Muscle cramps and leg cramps
3. Prognosis:
Cholera can quickly become fatal. In most severe cases, the rapid loss of large amounts
of fluids and electrolytes can lead to death within hours. In less extreme situations, people
who don’t receive treatment can die of dehydration and shock hours to days after cholera
symptoms first appear.
4. Preventive measures:
 Getting vaccinated against cholera by the cholera vaccine.
 Use of boiled and chemically disinfected water or boiled water. Use this water for
drinking, preparing food or drinks, making ice, brushing teeth, washing face and
hands, washing dishes and utensils used in food preparation and eating and
washing fruits and vegetables.
 Avoid raw foods like unpeeled fruits and vegetables, unpasteurized milk and milk
products. Raw or undercooked meat.
 Educating the community about these preventive measures
5. Treatment:
Hydration is the mainstay of treatment for cholera depending on how severe the diarrhoea
is. Oral or intravenous solutions to replace fluids. Antibiotics which kill bacteria. This
reduces the duration or diarrhoea by half and also reduce the excretion of bacteria to
minimise spreading.
References
1. http://everydayhealth.com>
2. https://www.medicinenet.com>article