Cholera
Synopsis of Cholera
Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is typically contracted through the ingestion of contaminated water or food. Cholera causes rapid onset of severe, watery diarrhea—often described as “rice-water stools”—leading to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and potentially death if untreated. The infection spreads easily, particularly in areas with poor sanitation, unsafe drinking water, and during humanitarian crises.
Most infections are mild or asymptomatic, but in severe cases, cholera can cause shock and death within hours due to extreme dehydration. Rapid diagnosis, rehydration, and electrolyte replacement are crucial for survival.
Types of Cholera:
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Typical Cholera: Sudden onset of profuse, watery diarrhea, vomiting, and rapid dehydration.
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Asymptomatic or Mild Cholera: Individuals have minimal to mild diarrhea but can still spread the infection.
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Severe Cholera: Intense diarrhea leading to dehydration, muscle cramps, low blood pressure, and unconsciousness if not treated.
Common Causes:
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Consumption of contaminated water (primary cause)
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Eating contaminated food, particularly raw or undercooked seafood
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Poor sanitation and lack of clean water supply
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Contact with infected individuals in outbreak regions
Severity Factors:
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Lack of immediate access to medical care
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Age (children and the elderly are more vulnerable)
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Malnourishment or weakened immune system
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High bacterial load ingestion
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Delay in rehydration treatment
When to See a Doctor:
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Severe, sudden onset of watery diarrhea
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Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, sunken eyes, little or no urination, lethargy)
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Vomiting along with diarrhea
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Rapid heart rate, low blood pressure
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Muscle cramps, weakness
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After travel to or during outbreaks in endemic areas
Natural remedies for Cholera
Oral rehydration solution (ORS): A mixture of clean water, salt, and sugar to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.
Homemade ORS: Mix 1 liter of clean water with 6 teaspoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon of salt if commercial ORS is unavailable.
Rice water: Drinking water in which rice has been boiled helps rehydrate and provides some nutrients.
Zinc supplementation: Shown to reduce diarrhea duration and severity, especially in children.
Probiotic foods: If tolerated, probiotics can help restore gut flora (only after acute rehydration is achieved).
Small, frequent sips: Even if vomiting occurs, continuous small amounts of fluid intake can prevent worsening dehydration.
Ingredients
These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Cholera
Activated charcoal
Aloe vera
green chiretta
anthocyanins
betel
bilberry
black currant
blueberry
rice
chlorella
chloride
cowage seed
turmeric
d-sorbitol
elderberry
forsythia
garlic bulb
ginger
green tea
licorice root
pear
pomegranate
quercetin
resveratrol
Saccharomyces boulardii
spirulina
vitamin C
Zinc
squawvine
xanthium (cockleburs)
Mugwort
Neem tree
alpinia galangal
holarrhena antidysenterica
blackboard tree
Caesalpinia crista
peony
buckthorn
sodium salt
siler root
Morinda
zanthoxylum
indigo leaves
Alcohol
ash
Artemisia Herba-Alba
anthraquinone
Aga
Amylase
Ammonium chloride
anamu
Arisaema amurense
Activated Charcoal
Aconite
Artemisia
Alkaloid (unspecified)
Allium (unspecified)
Activated Charcoal
Alkaloids
Antimony potassium tartrate
Avian (unspecified)
Ant
Artemisia (unspecified)
Aster (unspecified)
Bentonite
Belleric myrobalan
Bengal Fig
Bergenia Pacumbis
bishop\'s weed
black galingale
Billygoat plum
bitter grass
Blackboard tree
bael
Buttermilk
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bur-reed
Bacillus (unspecified)
back nightshade
Bombax
borassus palm
Borassus aethiopum
Chloride
colloidal silver
capillary artemisia
Chinese raisintree
cowherb
Clivers
colombo
Cassia fistula
chirata
Chinese Rhubarb
Cynanchum (unspecified)
Chinese Goldthread
Chenopodium album
Color
Dwarf lilyturf
English Oak
European Barberry
European five-finger grass
Ethanol
esters (unspecified)
Finger Leaf Morning Glory
Five-Leaf Cassia
Goldthread (unspecified)
Hedyotis
Holarrhena (unspecified)
Holarrhena antidysenterica
Helicteres isora
Huang hua
Immunoglobulins
Indian Mustard
Isatis
Indian Redwood
long pepper
Ignatius bean
Kurtha zopfil
Lebbek
lodhtree
Melia
Neem
Oxystelma
Oldenlandia
polymorpha
Pyrrosia
Prickly ash (mixed)
Red root (unspecified)
Rice
Sophora flavescens
Southern Prickly Ash
Sicklepod
Sichuan Fritillary
Sea water
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
salt
Streptococcus (mixed)
salt (unspecified)
Sodium
Sodium
Sodium chloride
Sodium chlorite
Tannin (unspecified)
Trichosanthis
Tamaricaceae
Tayuya
Thatch screw-pine
Thaumatococcus daniellii
Trichosanthes
Tannates
Tagetes
Tamarind
Water
White Rice
Worm
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