Cholera Disease

Ocampo, Anjella Marie Z.

What is Cholera Disease?
Cholera Disease

• Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated water.

Cholera causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. Left untreated, cholera can
be fatal within hours, even in previously healthy people.

• Cholera is easily treated. Death from severe dehydration can be prevented

with a simple and inexpensive rehydration solution.
Research

• Most cases of cholera that cause symptoms cause mild or moderate diarrhea
that's often hard to tell apart from diarrhea caused by other problems. Others
develop more-serious signs and symptoms of cholera, usually within a few
days of infection.

• Modern sewage and water treatment have virtually eliminated cholera in

industrialized countries. But cholera still exists in Africa, Southeast Asia and
Haiti. The risk of a cholera epidemic is highest when poverty, war or natural
disasters force people to live in crowded conditions without adequate
sanitation
Symptoms
Symptoms

Diarrhea Nausea and Vomiting Dehydration

• Cholera-related diarrhea • Vomiting occurs • Dehydration can

comes on suddenly and especially in the early develop within hours
can quickly cause stages of cholera and after cholera symptoms
dangerous fluid loss — can last for hours. start and range from
as much as a quart mild to severe. A loss of
(about 1 liter) an hour. 10% or more of body
Diarrhea due to cholera weight indicates severe
often has a pale, milky dehydration.
appearance that
resembles water in
which rice has been
rinsed.
Electrolyte imbalance

Muscle cramps Shock

• These result from the rapid • This is one of the most

loss of salts such as sodium, serious complications of
chloride and potassium. dehydration. It occurs when
low blood volume causes a
drop in blood pressure and a
drop in the amount of oxygen
in your body. If untreated,
severe hypovolemic shock
can cause death in minutes.
When to see a Doctor?
When to see a Doctor?

• The risk of cholera is slight in industrialized nations. Even in areas where it

exists you're not likely to become infected if you follow food safety
recommendations. Still, cases of cholera occur throughout the world. If you
develop severe diarrhea after visiting an area with active cholera, see your
doctor.

• If you have diarrhea, especially severe diarrhea, and think you might have
been exposed to cholera, seek treatment right away. Severe dehydration is a
medical emergency that requires immediate care.
TREATMENT

Rehydration Therapy • Antibiotic Therapy

• Cholera can cause dehydration, which can be • Doxycycline 2–4 mg/kg by mouth (per os,
deadly if not properly treated. With timely p.o.) single dose (children 12 years old)
rehydration therapy, more than 99% of cholera
patients will survive. That’s why rehydration is • Azithromycin 20 mg/kg (max 1 g) p.o.
the most important treatment for cholera. single dose, or ciprofloxacin 20 mg/kg
• Rehydration therapy for patients with cholera (max 1 g) p.o. single dose (alternate drug)
can include
• Doxycycline 300 mg p.o. single dose
• adequate volumes of a solution of oral (children 12 years old, pregnant women)
rehydration salts,
• Azithromycin 1 g p.o. single dose, or
• intravenous (IV) fluids when necessary, and ciprofloxacin 1 g p.o. single dose
(alternate drug)
• electrolytes.
TREATMENT

Zinc Treatment

• When available, supplementation (20 mg zinc per day in children 6 months or

older) should be started immediately. A study in Bangladesh showed that zinc
supplementation significantly reduced the duration and severity of diarrhea in
children suffering from cholera. The study was conducted with 179 children,
3-14 years old, who were admitted to a hospital within 24 hours of the onset
of cholera symptoms. 
Causes
 Causes

Raw fruits and

Surface or well water Seafood Grains
vegetables
• Contaminated public • Eating raw or • Raw, unpeeled fruits • In regions where
wells are frequent undercooked and vegetables are a cholera is
sources of large-scale seafood, especially frequent source of widespread, grains
cholera outbreaks. shellfish, that comes cholera infection in such as rice and
People living in from certain places areas where there's millet that are
crowded conditions can expose you to cholera. In developing contaminated after
without adequate cholera bacteria. countries, cooking and kept at
sanitation are Most recent cases of uncomposted manure room temperature for
especially at risk. cholera in the United fertilizers or irrigation several hours can
States have been water containing raw grow cholera
traced to seafood sewage can bacteria.
from the Gulf of contaminate produce
Mexico. in the field.
Risk Factors
Poor Sanitary
Conditions

is more likely to flourish

in situations where a
sanitary environment
including a safe water
supply is difficult to
maintain.
Reduced or Non-
Existent Stomach
Acid

Cholera bacteria can't

survive in an acidic
environment, and
ordinary stomach acid
often serves as a
defense against infection.
Household
Exposure

You're at increased risk

of cholera if you live with
someone who has the
disease.
Type O Blood

For reasons that aren't

entirely clear, people
with type O blood are
twice as likely to
develop cholera
compared with people
with other blood types
Raw or
Undercooked
Shellfish

Although industrialized
nations no longer have large-
scale cholera outbreaks,
eating shellfish from waters
known to harbor the bacteria
greatly increases your risk.
Complications
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

• Dangerously low levels of blood sugar (glucose) — the

body's main energy source — can occur when people
become too ill to eat. Children are at greatest risk of this
complication, which can cause seizures, unconsciousness
and even death.
Low Potassium Levels

• People with cholera lose large quantities of minerals,

including potassium, in their stools. Very low potassium
levels interfere with heart and nerve function and are life-
threatening.
Kidney Failure

• When the kidneys lose their filtering ability, excess amounts

of fluids, some electrolytes and wastes build up in the body a
potentially life-threatening condition. In people with cholera,
kidney failure often accompanies shock.
Preventions
Wash your hands with soap and water
frequently

Especially after using the toilet and before handling food. Rub
soapy, wet hands together for at least 15 seconds before
rinsing. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-
based hand sanitizer.
Drink only safe water

Including bottled water or water you've boiled or

disinfected yourself. Use bottled water even to brush
your teeth.
Eat food that's completely cooked and hot

and avoid street vendor food, if possible. If you do buy

a meal from a street vendor, make sure it's cooked in
your presence and served hot.
Avoid sushi

as well as raw or improperly cooked fish and seafood

of any kind.
Stick to fruits and vegetables that you can peel
yourself

such as bananas, oranges and avocados. Stay away

from salads and fruits that can't be peeled, such as
grapes and berries.
Cholera Vaccine

• 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.
• Several 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.
Works Cited

• Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (1998-2022)

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cholera/symptoms-causes/
syc-20355287
Leptospirosis
What Is Leptospirosis?
What is Leptospirosis?

• Leptospirosis is a rare bacterial infection we get from animals. It’s spread

through their urine, especially from dogs, rodents, and farm animals. They
may not have any symptoms, but they can be carriers.

• In most cases, leptospirosis is unpleasant but not life-threatening, like a case

of the flu. It rarely lasts more than a week. But about 10% of the time, when
you have a severe form of leptospirosis, you’ll get better, but then get sick
again. This is called Weil’s disease and it can cause much more serious
issues, like chest pain and swollen arms and legs. It often requires
hospitalization.
Causes
What Causes It?

• Leptospirosis is caused by a bacterium called Leptospira interrogans.

The organism is carried by many animals and lives in their kidney. It
ends up in soil and water through their urine.

• If you’re around soil or water where an infected animal has peed, the

germ can invade your body through breaks in your skin, like scratches,
open wounds, or dry areas. It can also enter through your nose, mouth,
or genitals.
You’re more likely to be exposed to it if you have
one of these jobs:

• Farmer

• Veterinarian

• Underground worker (you work in a sewer or a mine)

• Slaughterhouse worker

• Military personnel
Symptoms
What are the symptoms?

• When the disease does hit, it hits fast. You’ll get a fever. It may spike to 104
F. Other typical symptoms include:

• Headache
• Muscle ache
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Skin rash
Treatment
How Do you Treat It?

• Leptospirosis can be treated with antibiotics, including penicillin and

doxycycline. Your doctor may also recommend ibuprofen for fever and
muscle pain.

• But, you may have to go to the hospital if your infection is more severe.
Symptoms may include kidney failure, meningitis, and lung problems.
You may need to have antibiotics injected into your body, and in very
serious cases, the infection could damage your organs.
Prevention
How Can You Prevent It?

• Avoid contaminated water. If you’re in a developing country, don’t drink the

water unless you’re sure it’s clean. But because leptospirosis can enter
through other body openings, it’s also a good idea to avoid swimming,
waterskiing, sailing, or fishing in freshwater areas. Saltwater is generally safe.

• Keep away from infected animals, especially wild rats. Rats and other
rodents are the main carriers of the bacteria. Even in the Western world, 20%
of wild rats may have it. Be careful if you have to handle wild rats or come in
contact with their habitats.
Pets
Can Pets Get It?

• All animals can get leptospirosis. Though it used to be rare in pets, it has
shown up more often in the past few years, especially in dogs.

• Many of the symptoms of leptospirosis are very similar to other diseases,

such as:
• Fever
• Belly pain, vomiting, diarrhea
• Weakness
• Pain 
• Stiffness
Advice

• The only way to know for sure if they have it is to ask your vet to do a
test. And of course, if your pet is infected, they can pass it on to you.
There is a leptospirosis vaccine available for dogs. Veterinarians
recommend that any dog that goes outside at all -- even just to go to
the bathroom -- be vaccinated against leptospirosis.
Reference

• Khartri, M (2021) What is Leptospirosis?

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-leptospirosis