Cholera
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cholera is an infectious disease. It is caused by a bacteria Vibrio cholerae. This bacteria usually lives in water. Vibrio cholera is more common where fresh water mixes with salt water, like where rivers enter the ocean. It is more common in water with lots of algae.
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[edit] Symptoms
People who have cholera get vomiting. They also get diarrhea and pain in the stomach. The vomiting and diarrhea from cholera can be very bad. It can kill people within hours from dehydration. Dehydration is losing too much water and salts.
People with cholera also get symptoms of dehydration. Some symptoms of dehydration are:
- Thirst
- Less urination or no urination
- Weakness
- Less tears and less wetness in the mouth
- Cramps
- Low blood pressure and high pulse
[edit] How people get cholera
People get infected by eating or drinking the Vibrio cholera bacteria. Usually people get cholera from eating fish that is not cooked enough. They can also get it if they eat food or drink that was polluted with the diarrhea from people who have cholera.
[edit] How to treat cholera
People with cholera need medical treatment. Most of the treatment for cholera is giving people fluids (water) and electrolytes (salts). For most people with cholera, fluids and electrolytes are given by mouth. This can be done with 80-90% of people. The best way to give this by mouth is WHO-ORS: World Health Organization Oral Rehydration Solution. (Oral means by mouth. Rehydration means to give back fluids and electrolytes to someone who is dehydrated. Solution is a mixture of salts and water.)
Some people cannot take enough fluids and electrolytes by mouth. Usually this is because vomiting is so bad. These people must be given treatment intravenously. (Intravenous means into a vein. Intravenous fluids and electrolytes are given through a needle into a person's vein.) This is necessary because if people cannot drink enough fluids and electrolytes, they can die quickly.
[edit] How to prevent cholera
Cholera can be stopped by three simple things:
- Never eat raw fish (especially shellfish.)
- Good sanitation. This means keeping things clean. It also means making sure human waste (urine and stool) does not get into food or water supply.
- Boiling, filtering, or chlorinating water before use. (Boiling works best.)
[edit] Links
These may be unsimple:
- [CDC Facts about Cholera]
- [WHO Facts about Cholera]
- [Rehydration Project] talks about ORSs (Oral Rehydration Solutions)
