7 minutes agoAuthor: Gaurav Tiwari
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cholera cases have become a matter of concern in the last few years. The number of people getting infected and dying from it is also increasing continuously. These figures are frightening because in the 19th and 20th centuries this disease has caused devastation in the whole world. In those days, entire villages were destroyed due to cholera in India.
This disease, which started in Bengal in India in the beginning of the 19th century, spread its tentacles in the middle of the 20th century and engulfed the entire world. By the year 1961, a total of 6 pandemics occurred due to it, in which lakhs of people lost their lives. After this, the seventh pandemic started from South Asia in 1961, reached Africa in 1971 and America in 1991.
The graph of cholera figures is increasing even in the year 2024. This can be a matter of greater concern for India because cleanliness and hygiene is still a big issue here and this can also become a major reason for the spread of cholera.
The monsoon is about to end, but many areas of the country are still struggling with floods and waterlogging. In such a situation, cholera can be a big threat in cities and villages located on the banks of rivers and ponds.
so today ‘health report‘ We will talk about cholera. Along with that we will know that-
- Why are its latest figures frightening?
- How to recognize the symptoms of cholera?
- What are its treatment and prevention measures?
What is cholera?
Cholera is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Vibrio Cholerae. This bacteria can spread through contaminated water, food or any other medium.
Most people with cholera have few or no symptoms. However, some people may experience severe diarrhea and dehydration.
All such serious cases require immediate treatment. If treatment is delayed even by a few hours, it can lead to the death of the patient. Even if someone is completely healthy, severe cholera can cause death within a few hours.
What do WHO figures say?
According to the World Health Organization, in the year 2022, about 4 lakh people were infected with cholera, while about two and a half thousand people died. These figures are double compared to the year 2021.
After this, in the year 2023, the infected cases increased to more than 5 lakh 30 thousand, while more than 4 thousand people died. In this, the World Health Organization believes that the actual figures may be much higher than the recorded cases. They estimate that about 1 lakh people are dying in a year due to cholera. The matter of concern in this is the graph going up every year.
What are the symptoms of cholera?
Usually, people do not know about being infected with cholera bacteria despite being infected with it. This is because most people do not show any symptoms. According to the World Health Organization, people who are showing symptoms of the disease usually develop symptoms 12 hours to 5 days after infection. During this time, other people can also get infected through these people. What are its symptoms, see the graphic below.
Cholera can be fatal for 10% of people
Cholera causes diarrhea and vomiting. Due to this, there may be a deficiency of these important things in the body:
- Electrolytes
- Fluids i.e. body water (human body contains 60% water)
- Sodium
- Potassium
It can cause serious health conditions that can lead to death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 10% of all cholera cases may experience severe symptoms.
How is cholera tested?
- There is a bacterial difference between cholera and common diarrhoea.
- There is a bacteria in the body of a cholera patient, whose scientific name is Vibrio Cholerae.
- A stool test is done to detect its presence.
- The presence of V. bacteria in the stool is checked through a microscope.
- In areas where cholera is widespread, doctors use a ‘dipstick’ tool.
- With the help of this tool, bacteria can be detected immediately by doing stool test.
What is the treatment for cholera?
Immediate treatment is required when symptoms of infection appear. During this time, the most important thing is to prevent dehydration and replenish the water loss in the body due to it. Therefore, doctors adopt the following methods for this:
- First of all, oral rehydration salt is given by mixing it in water. Usually doctors recommend taking ORS solution for this.
- In severe dehydration, a drip may be administered for rehydration.
- Antibiotic medicines are given to eliminate the bacteria that caused the infection.
- Supplements are given to overcome zinc deficiency.
These treatments increase the amount of fluid in the body and replace the loss of electrolytes. This helps in reducing the frequency of diarrhea and vomiting.
What are the measures to prevent cholera?
Prevention is better than cure for any disease. Especially in diseases that have a high risk of death, prevention is the best solution.
To prevent cholera, it is most important to keep washing hands from time to time. For this, use soap or handwash. If you are at a place where soap and water are not available, you can use alcohol-based sanitizer. Apart from this, what other things to keep in mind, see the graphic below.
