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The bacterium Vibrio cholerae, spread through contaminated water and food, attacks the wall of the small intestine and causes diarrhea and vomiting so severe that the patient can die of dehydration within hours. A bacterium called Vibrio cholerae causes cholera infection.
The deadly effects of the disease are the result of a toxin the bacteria produces in the small intestine. The toxin causes the body to secrete enormous amounts of water, leading to diarrhea and a rapid loss of fluids and salts electrolytes.
Cholera affects an estimated 3—5 million people worldwide and causes deaths a year. Although it is classified as a pandemic as of , it is rare in the developed world…. Cholera is a bacterial infection of the intestines.
People who have mild to moderate cases usually get better within a week. Even people with severe cases of cholera recover fully in a week or so if they get medical care. Rehydration therapy, the primary treatment for cholera patients, refers to the prompt restoration of lost fluids and salts. If you're traveling to areas known to have cholera, your risk of contracting the disease is extremely low if you follow these precautions:.
Drink only safe water, including bottled water or water you've boiled or disinfected yourself. Use bottled water even to brush your teeth. Hot beverages are generally safe, as are canned or bottled drinks, but wipe the outside before you open them. Don't add ice to your drinks unless you made it yourself using safe water. For adults traveling from the United States to areas affected by cholera, a vaccine called Vaxchora is available in the United States. It is a liquid dose taken by mouth at least 10 days before travel.
A few other countries offer oral vaccines as well. Contact your doctor or local office of public health for more information about these vaccines.
Even with the vaccine, it's important to take the above precautions to prevent cholera. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated water.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Transmission is usually through the fecal-oral route of contaminated food or water caused by poor sanitation. People infected with cholera often have diarrhea , and disease transmission may occur if this highly liquid stool , colloquially referred to as " rice - water ", contaminates water used by others. The nasty bacterium responsible is a one-celled microscopic organism that kills by causing an infection in the small intestine.
What makes the disease so deadly is the severe dehydration it causes once symptoms begin to set in. Cholera is caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae. These bacteria release a toxin that causes an increased amount of water to be released from cells that line the intestines. This increase in water produces severe diarrhea. Living in or traveling to areas where cholera is present raises the risk of getting it. Does boiling water kill cholera? And it will not only kill Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria that causes cholera, but it's a right way to make sure your water is free of any pathogen, any living organism that could cause infection or illness.
How can you prevent cholera? What are the complications of cholera? In people with severe cholera, rapid fluid loss can cause dehydration, septic shock, and even death — sometimes within a matter of a few hours. Other complications can include low blood sugar, low potassium levels, and kidney failure.
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