Although the illness called cholera is usually not life-threatening, the symptoms it produces can be extremely uncomfortable. Cholera is caused by a organism called Vibrio cholerae. This organism is a kind of bacteria that lives in some rivers and along the coasts of oceans.

How cholera is spread

Cholera is spread by eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with the cholera bacterium. Foods such as raw shellfish are a frequent culprit in this illness. Sometimes foods such as raw fruits and vegetables are to blame. Although these foods do not live in water, as shellfish do, they can become contaminated with cholera if they are washed in water that contains the bacteria. Cholera is frequently found in countries that do not have modern facilities for cleaning water before people can drink it or wash with it. Because cholera is spread by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, it is called a food-borne illness.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of cholera is diarrhea. In many cases, the person only suffers mild symptoms that disappear within a short period of time. In some people, the symptoms are quite severe. The person will suffer frequent bouts of vomiting, along with severe, very watery diarrhea. This leads to dehydration, a condition in which the body loses fluids very rapidly. If the dehydration is not corrected within a short time, the patient can go into shock. In some cases, this can lead to death within only a few hours.

Treatment

Treatment for cholera consists mainly of rehydration. This means that the patient is given fluids through an intravenous tube in a hospital. If vomiting is not too severe, the patient may also be given certain types of liquid to drink. These liquids contain not only water but also a mixture of salts and sugars that help restore the important nutrients lost from vomiting and diarrhea. In some cases, antibiotics are given to the patient.

The best treatment for cholera is prevention. It is always very important to drink only water that has been properly cleaned and treated to destroy bacteria and other germs. In some developing countries, where water treatment methods have not been modernized, only bottled water should be consumed. It is also important in these countries to avoid raw or undercooked foods. In the United States, modern water treatment methods are used to keep water clean. This has greatly helped to control outbreaks of cholera. However, it is important even in the United States to never drink water directly from a stream or river or lake. Although it is safe to eat raw fruits and vegetables in the United States—provided they have been washed first—it is not safe to eat raw or undercooked shellfish.