According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cholera cases have become a concern in the last few years. The number of people infected and dying from it is also increasing continuously. These figures are frightening because the disease ravaged the entire world in the 19th and 20th centuries. In those days, villages in India were destroyed by cholera.
The disease, which started in Bengal, India in the early 19th century, spread in the middle of the 20th century and took over the entire world. By the year 1961, it caused a total of 6 epidemics, in which millions of people lost their lives. After this, the seventh pandemic started in South Asia in 1961, reached Africa in 1971 and the Americas in 1991.
Even in the year 2024, the graph of cholera statistics is increasing. This may be of greater concern for India, as sanitation and hygiene are still a major problem here and may also be a major cause of cholera outbreaks.
The monsoon is coming to an end, but many parts of the country are still struggling with floods and waterlogging. In such a situation, cholera can become a major threat in cities and villages located along the banks of rivers and lakes.
That's why today' In 'Healthy Water' We will talk about cholera. You will also know that-
- Why are its recent statistics frightening?
- How can we 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. These bacteria can spread through contaminated water, food or any other means.
Most people with cholera show few or no symptoms. However, some people may experience severe diarrhea and dehydration.
All such serious cases require immediate treatment. If the treatment is delayed even by a few hours, it can lead to the death of the patient. Even if a person is perfectly healthy, severe cholera can cause death within hours.
What do the WHO statistics say? According to the World Health Organization, in the year 2022, about 2.5 lakh people were infected with cholera, while about 2.5 thousand people died. This figure is double compared to the year 2021.
After this, in the year 2023, the cases of infection increased to more than 5 lakh 30 thousand, while more than 4 thousand people died. The World Health Organization believes that the actual number may be much higher than the reported cases. He estimates that about 1 lakh people die annually due to cholera. Worryingly, the graph is increasing every year.
What are the symptoms of cholera? Generally, people do not know about cholera even though they are infected with bacteria. This is because most people do not experience any symptoms. According to the World Health Organization, people who develop symptoms of the disease usually develop symptoms 12 hours to 5 days after infection. During this time, these people can also infect other people. What are its features, see in the graphic below.
Cholera can be fatal for 10% of people Diarrhea-vomiting problem starts due to cholera. Due to which the body may lack these important substances.
- Electrolytes
- Fluid i.e. body water (60% of human body is water)
- Sodium
- Potassium
This can lead to serious health conditions, which can lead to death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 10% of all infected cases of cholera may experience severe symptoms.
How is cholera tested?
- There is a bacterial difference between cholera and common diarrhea.
- A cholera patient has a bacteria in his body, the scientific name of which is Vibrio Cholerae.
- A stool test is done to detect its presence.
- The presence of V. bacteria in the stool is examined under a microscope.
- In places where cholera is most prevalent, doctors use a 'dipstick' instrument.
- With the help of this tool, bacteria can be detected by performing a stool test immediately.
What is the treatment for cholera? If symptoms of infection appear, immediate treatment is required. During this period, the most important thing is to prevent dehydration and replenish the lack of water in the body. So doctors adopt the following methods for this:
- First, oral rehydration salts are mixed with water. Usually doctors recommend taking ORS solution for this.
- In case of severe dehydration, rehydration drops may also be given.
- Antibiotics are given to kill the bacteria causing the infection.
- Supplements are given to correct zinc deficiency.
These treatments increase body fluids and replenish electrolytes. This helps reduce the rate of diarrhea and vomiting.
What are the preventive measures against cholera?
Prevention of any disease is better than cure. Especially in diseases where the risk of death is high, prevention is the best solution.
To prevent cholera, the most important thing is to wash your hands periodically. Use soap or hand wash for this. If you are in a place where soap and water are not available, you can use an alcohol-based sanitizer. Other than this, what else needs to be kept in mind, see the graphic below.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
