Cholera

Introduction: Cholera

Cholera: An acute bacterial disease transmitted through food or water contaminated with human faeces. The intestinal infection is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Cholera is available below.

Symptoms of Cholera

• Stage 1: diarrheal stage
  • Watery diarrhea - usually severe but painless
  • Vomiting
  • Rice-water stools
  • Muscle cramps

See full list of 38 symptoms of Cholera

Medical Textbooks Online about Cholera

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Cholera?

• Misdiagnosis of Cholera

Misdiagnosis and Cholera

Treat chronic diarrhoea seriously: Diarrhoea can be quite frightening and stressful for the patient. Serious disorders such as colorectal carcinoma must be considered in patients who present with a gradual onset of persistent diarrhoea. AIDS due to symptomatic HIV infection needs consideration especially in those at risk. Infectious disorders that can affect international travellers such as cholera, paratyphoid and amoebiasis should also be kept in mind and a detailed travel history must be taken from the patient. In children coeliac disease and fibrocystic disease present with chronic diarrhoea. Infection with Giardia lamblia may go on for months with watery stools before diagnosis....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Cholera

Causes of Cholera

• Vibrio cholerae

Read more about causes of Cholera

Read more about causes of Cholera.

More information about causes of Cholera:

• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Cholera

Treatments for Cholera

• Bed rest
• Tetracycline
• Sulphonamides
• Fluid replacement
• Electrolytes

See full list of 8 treatments for Cholera

Videos for Cholera

Patient Surveys for Cholera

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Cholera
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Prognosis for Cholera

Prognosis for Cholera: Although cholera can be life-threatening, it is easily prevented and treated. In the United States, because of advanced water and sanitation systems, cholera is not a major threat; however, everyone, especially travelers, should be aware of how the disease is transmitted and what can be done to prevent it. (Source: excerpt from Cholera General: DBMD)

More about prognosis of Cholera

Reseach about Cholera

Visit our research pages for current research about Cholera treatments.

Clinical Trials for Cholera

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Cholera include:

• Immunity to Human Cholera in Bangladesh - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Zinc Supplementation in Cholera Patients - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Zinc
• Safety and Immunogenicity of Oral Cholera Vaccine in Kolkata - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Safety and Immunogenicity of a New Formulation of a Bivalent Killed, Whole-Cell Oral Cholera Vaccine - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Protective Immunity to Human Cholera in Bangladesh - This study is not yet open for patient recruitment (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

See full list of 8 Clinical Trials for Cholera

Prevention of Cholera

Prevention information for Cholera has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Cholera.

• Cholera vaccination
• Avoid contaminated water
• Avoid contaminated food

Read more about prevention of Cholera

Statistics for Cholera

• Medical statistics for Cholera
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Cholera
• Death and Mortality statistics for Cholera
• Society statistics for Cholera

Types of Cholera

• Classic cholera - the main type
• Cholera sicca - rare form where much fluid is retained in the digestive system.

Read more about Types of Cholera

Stories from Users Related to Cholera

• Actual effects of Vibrio Cholerae on human body

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Cholera, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
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Definitions of Cholera:

An acute diarrheal disease endemic in India and Southeast Asia whose causative agent is VIBRIO CHOLERAE. This condition can lead to severe dehydration in a matter of hours unless quickly treated. - (Source - Diseases Database)

An acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Cholera as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet