1. Definition, causes, prevention and cure
CHOLERA
Definition, causes, prevention and cure

2. Definition
Broadly speaking an epidemic disease is any infectious disease that develops & spreads rapidly to many people
It is a greek word, which means the gatter/ the roof
It was discovered by Robert Koch during a diarrheal outbreak in Egypt in 1883

3. Causes It is caused by the vibrio cholerae
Vibro cholarae has 2 major types:
-EL Tor biotype
- Classical biotype
EL Tor is the predominant cholera pathogen worldwide
Vibro cholarae is a saltwater organism and its primary habitat is the marine systems

4. Causes Poor personal hygiene practice
Hygiene is the health of an individual
Poor sanitary conditions
Pple more likely to be attacked by the disease
Reduced or non existent stomach acid ie hypochlorhydria & achlorhydria. Ordinary stomach often serves as first line defense against Infection. People with low levels of stomach acids eg children & older adults lack this protection, so they are at great risk of being attacked by cholera

5. Symptoms The symptoms are hard to distinguish from those of diarrhea
They begin with sudden with sudden onset of watery diarrhea, which may be followed by vomiting.
Extreme diarrhea, nausea, vomiting & dehydration
Lose of fluid as much as a litre per hour

6. Symptoms
Dehydration can lead to muscle spams and specifically hypovohemic shock
Hypovolemic is a situation by which there is low volume of blood in the circulatory system
Irregular heartbeat, sunken eyes, dry mouth & low blood pressure
In children shock, drowsiness & coma are common. Fever is also frequent
Breast fed infants are usually protected

7. Transmission 1)Person to person transmission
The vibrio bacteria be spread to other people through contaminated sheets & clothing. Handshakes transmit the disease, fluids from infected person
2)Vehicle transmission
through food/water which has been effected / contaminated by human/ animal feces with Vibro cholarae
Also spread by food borne transmission such as raw/ undercooked shellfish this harbor the bacteria hence greatly increases the spread of the disease

8. Treatment
Oral dehydration solution (ORS) which contains salt, sugar & electrolytes
It replaces water which has been lost by the body
Antibiotics such as tetracycle are effective against many vibrios will reduce the period of infection
Currently there are 2 vaccines Dukoral which was prequalified by (WHO).
And Shancol which is licensed in India & is awaiting WHO approval.

9. Treatment
The vaccines may take several weeks for their benefits to begin taking shape in a person, so vaccination should not replace standard prevention and control measures

10. Prevention/ control
Education of hygiene ( conduct awareness campaigns as social workers)
Provision of safe, uncontaminated, drinking water to the people
Use of Antibiotic prophylaxis eg chlorine, water guard to households
Vaccination against cholera to travellers to endemic countries & during public gatherings

11. Prevention Improve of waste management
Washing hands regularly throughout the day. Germs can stay alive on our hands for up to 3hrs and can spread on everything we touch including food & other people
Personal hygiene
>maintaing cleanliness of the body & clothing
>maintaining adequate nuitrition
> keep your environment clean
> ensure drinking clean water

12. Prevention
Eat thouroughly cooked food whilst it is still hot

13. Causes
House hold exposure - significantly increased risk of cholera if you live with someone who has the disease
People with type 'O' blood- For reasons that are not entirely clear, people with type 'O' blood are twice likely to develop compared with other blood types
Subjects with blood type 'O' are more susceptible of the disease, the cause is unknown