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Beware of Cholera in Mostly Third World Countries

Contaminated water is a big culprit in causing many diseases and cholera is one of them. The United States has virtually eliminated this bacterial disease as of the early 20th century thanks to cleaner water and waste management practices. However, the same cannot be said for other areas of the world.

Cholera causes extreme diarrhea resulting in quick dehydration and if left untreated, you could die within hours. In many unindustrialized areas of the world such as some of the countries in Africa and rural areas in Central and South America, Asia, India and the Middle East, cholera is common due to the lack of water treatment and sewage facilities that help create safer water for drinking and bathing.

Poverty, environmental disasters like mudslides and tsunamis and war all take a toll on living conditions. Therefore even an area which normally would have safe water could become contaminated with the bacteria that cause cholera. While the disease is very unpleasant with the severe diarrhea, it can be easily treated with proper rehydration practices like IV solutions, more fluid intake and the replenishment of electrolytes.

Symptoms of Cholera

Diarrhea is the prevalent side effect to the bacterial causing this disease. However, some people infected never become ill but they could still pass on the bacteria through their feces for up to two week or more. And those who do experience mild forms of the diarrhea, they may never attribute their malady to cholera at all. In fact only about 10% of cholera victims display the telltale signs of the disease such as:

1. Severe diarrhea - This will occur within five days of infection, the typical incubation time. It will be sudden and a huge amount of fluids will be lost quickly. The appearance is almost colorless.

2. Cramping - Because you are losing so much fluid, your levels of potassium and salts in the body are being depleted which cause cramping in the muscle.

3. Vomiting and nausea - Cholera victims may succumb to this early on in the disease or later on after some of the diarrhea has passed. Either way, the process could take several long hours.

4. Dehydration - It could take just a few hours for dehydration to become serious which is why some people die within hours. Voluminous amounts of fluids are being lost through diarrhea and even vomiting. Signs of dehydration are extreme thirst, dry mouth, sunken eyes, tiredness, low urine production, loss of skin pliability and low blood pressure.

5. Shock - When dehydration becomes critical, your body could develop arrhythmia and a quick drop in blood pressure could be the result of low blood volume. As a result, not enough oxygen is getting to your body cells. Death could be minutes away unless medical attention is immediately available.

Treatment and Prevention of Cholera

The best treatment for cholera is making sure you stay hydrated with plenty of fluids and keeping up your electrolytes. For the severest of cases, immediate hospitalization with IV fluids and even antibiotics can help cut the duration of the illness. In addition, the severe cases would benefit from medical intervention should shock occur.

During your travels to cholera prone areas, you will also want to practice safe water practices. Avoid well water and other areas where the water may have been sitting to long. Because cholera bacteria love to harbor in certain seafood crustaceans, it is important that you do not eat uncooked shellfish and other seafood. Cooking and baking kills the bacteria but eating the seafood raw will possibly transmit the cholera bacteria to you.

Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables when dining out in those countries where cholera is prevalent. Contaminated water could have been used to irrigate the produce causing them to harbor the bacteria or the produce could have come in contact with a source of infection. Finally, do not order any drinks with ice or alcoholic beverages with crushed ice as the ice could have been made with contaminated water. Only trust ice that was created from filtered drinking water.