What Causes Cholera and How Does It Spread?
When the normal human body condition deteriorates, then the condition is known as disease. Each disease has its own signs and symptoms. It can also be defined as a divergence of human body condition from its normal state. Example: when a person comes in contact with any kind of harmful pathogen, then in that case they show certain symptoms depending on body condition, which may be called a disease. Hence, in order to know about which kind of disease we are suffering through, we have to study all types of diseases. It's not necessary that a disease will show only a single symptom as it can show many symptoms also depending upon variation of the disease. Some of the very common symptoms of diseases are headaches, cough, cold, weakness.
Types of Diseases:
Diseases are categorised into two types, they are:
A. Infectious Disease:
It is a kind of disease that can be transmitted from one person to another, and due to this reason they are called communicable diseases. Such diseases are mainly caused by microorganisms, which are termed as pathogens like: (fungi, rickettsia, bacteria, viruses, protozoans, worms). When a fluid of an infected person is discharged then at that time pathogens may leave the host and infect a new person's body. Body fluid is discharged by processes like sneezing, coughing etc. Examples of infectious disease are Cholera, chickenpox, malaria etc.
B. Non-infectious Disease:
In this type of disease, people get infected by pathogens, but along with that other factors also play a role: age, nutritional deficiency, the gender of an individual, and lifestyle also influence the disease. Examples of non-infectious diseases are hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. As this disease cannot be transferred from one person to another so it remains inside the single person only.
Classification of Diseases on the Basis of Duration:
Based on duration, diseases can be categorised into two types:
A. Acute Disease: It is a kind of disease which occurs only for a short interval of time. An acute disease, if not treated properly, can eventually become a chronic disease. e.g. common cold, burn, etc.
B. Chronic Disease: It is a kind of disease which lasts for a long duration of time. Some of the common examples of this disease are heart and kidney diseases.
Cholera:
It is a kind of bacterial disease which is mainly caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. We can get this bacteria mainly in contaminated foods and water. It is also present in areas where there are no proper sanitation facilities. Discovery of this disease took place in the US during the 1800s and it caused major health problems to people for hundreds of years. Some of the commonly known symptoms of this disease are severe diarrhoea and leading to dehydration in the body and sometimes it might lead to a fatal condition.
About Cholera Bacteria:
The scientific name of cholera bacteria is Vibrio cholerae, it is mainly curved and comma-shaped and is gram-negative bacteria. It is mostly found in coastal saltwater areas and in the sewage. They attach themselves to the shells of shell-fish, crabs, etc. When we drink contaminated water it causes various threatening diseases and one among them is cholera.
They live in the small intestine of the human body and release an exotoxin that causes a flow of water and certain electrolytes such as the sodium bicarbonate, chloride etc, into the small intestine.
Symptoms of Cholera:
Some of the common symptoms of cholera are discussed below:
A. High fever.
B. Lead to increased thirst.
C. Sudden weight loss.
D. Decrease in blood pressure.
E. Feeling of Nausea
F. Formation of blood or mucus or sometimes undigested materials in the stool.
G. A kind bloating in the belly.
H. decrease in elasticity of the skin.
I. Causes cramps in the muscles.
J. Dryness in the mouth, nose, and eyelids.
K. Vomiting sensation
L. A sudden increase in the heart rate.
Causes of Cholera:
Some of the common causes of cholera are discussed below:
A. It can be caused by various factors like contaminated water supply or by drinking contaminated water.
B. It can also be caused by consumption of contaminated foods and drinks like street food.
C. Vegetables can also cause cholera-like the vegetables which are grown with the use of water with human wastes.
D. By eating contaminated sea-foods, which are polluted with sewage.
E. It can also be caused by the consumption of foods that affect the functioning of the digestive system.
Preventative Measures:
Some of the precautions which we can take to protect us from cholera are discussed below:
A. By drinking boiled water.
B. By avoiding consumption of raw foods.
C. By avoiding dairy products as much as you can.
D. By washing fruits and vegetables before you eat or use them for cooking purposes.
E. Washing your hands properly before you eat is the easiest way to protect yourself from the disease.
F. Drink plenty of water and it is recommended to drink about 8 ounces of water every day.
FAQs on Cholera: Key Facts, Symptoms & How to Prevent It
1. What is cholera, and which microorganism is responsible for causing it?
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection characterised by severe, watery diarrhoea. It is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which is typically found in water or food sources contaminated with faeces from an infected person.
2. What are the primary symptoms of a cholera infection?
The main symptoms of cholera appear suddenly and can become severe quickly. They include:
- Profuse, painless watery diarrhoea, often described as "rice-water stool".
- Vomiting, which may occur early in the illness.
- Rapid dehydration, leading to a fast heart rate, low blood pressure, muscle cramps, and thirst.
3. How is the cholera bacterium transmitted from one person to another?
Cholera is primarily transmitted through the faecal-oral route. This happens when a person ingests food or water that has been contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. Common sources of transmission include untreated municipal water supplies, contaminated rivers or coastal waters, and raw or undercooked food, especially shellfish.
4. What is the most important treatment for cholera?
The most critical treatment for cholera is immediate rehydration to replace the fluids and electrolytes lost through diarrhoea and vomiting. This is most commonly done using an Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), which is a pre-packaged mixture of sugar and salts mixed with clean water. In severe cases of dehydration, intravenous (IV) fluids are necessary.
5. What are the most effective ways to prevent a cholera infection?
Prevention focuses on ensuring safe water, food, and sanitation. Key measures include:
- Drinking and using safe water (boiled, chlorinated, or bottled).
- Washing hands thoroughly with soap and safe water, especially after using the toilet and before handling food.
- Using proper sanitation facilities to dispose of human waste safely.
- Cooking food, especially seafood, thoroughly and eating it while it is hot.
- Peeling raw fruits and vegetables yourself.
6. Why is rapid dehydration the most dangerous aspect of cholera?
The toxin produced by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium causes the cells lining the intestine to expel massive amounts of water and electrolytes. This rapid fluid loss, up to a litre per hour, leads to severe dehydration. Dehydration disrupts the balance of minerals in the blood, which is essential for nerve and muscle function, and can lead to hypovolemic shock, kidney failure, and death if not treated promptly.
7. How does Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) work to treat cholera?
Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is a precisely balanced mixture of salts (like sodium and potassium) and glucose. The glucose in the solution helps the small intestine to absorb the salts and water more effectively. This mechanism, known as sodium-glucose cotransport, allows the body to rapidly replenish the essential fluids and electrolytes lost during diarrhoea, counteracting dehydration even while the infection is active.
8. Can a person spread cholera even if they don't feel sick?
Yes, a person can be an asymptomatic carrier of cholera. Many people infected with Vibrio cholerae do not develop severe symptoms, or any symptoms at all. However, they can still shed the bacteria in their faeces for one to two weeks, unknowingly contaminating water sources or food and spreading the disease to others in the community.
9. What is the specific role of antibiotics in treating cholera?
While rehydration is the primary life-saving treatment, antibiotics play a secondary but important role in moderate to severe cases. Antibiotics can reduce the duration and severity of the diarrhoea by fighting the bacterial infection. This also shortens the period during which the patient sheds the bacteria, helping to limit the spread of the disease within a community.
10. Why are cholera outbreaks more common in areas affected by natural disasters or conflict?
Cholera outbreaks often follow events like floods, earthquakes, or conflicts because these situations disrupt or destroy public infrastructure. Key risk factors include:
- Damage to water and sanitation systems, leading to contamination of drinking water with sewage.
- Displacement of large populations into crowded, unsanitary camps.
- Lack of access to basic hygiene facilities and safe food preparation areas.
