A Simple Guide to Cholera

A Simple Guide to Cholera
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What is Cholera?
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Cholera is an acute infectious illness caused by the Vibrio cholorae bacteria.

What is the cause of Cholera?
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The bacteria which causes Cholera is the Vibrio cholorae which is an extremely hardy bacteria able to live in polluted water and contaminated food.

There are 2 main types of cholera bacteria:

1.the Classic short slightly curved Gram negative aerobic rods

2.The El Tor strain which is hardier,persists longer in nature and is more likely to cause carrier states in humans.

Incubation period is 12 hours to 6 days.

What are symptoms of Cholera?
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The main symptoms of Cholera are

1. Vomiting after 12 hours of ingestion of bacteria

2. abrupt painless rice water diarrhoea

3. abdominal pain

4. prostration and muscle cramps

Severe cases may have dehydration leading to:

1.hypotension

2.cardiovascular collapse

3.tachycardia

4.difficulty in breathing and cyanosis

5.weak peripheral pulses

6.delirium and disorientation

7.lassitude and tiredness

8.convulsions in small children

Symptoms usually appear within 12 hours after exposure to the germ and last up to 1 week.

How is Cholera transmitted?
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Most epidemics are water borne espcially after severe flooding.
The germs can also be transmitted by food handlers.

How is the diagnosis of Cholera made?
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Doctors generally diagnose Cholera based on the symptoms and a physical examination.
Confirmation is by blood tests and stool cultures.

What are the complications of Cholera?
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Cholera is a disease which can kill espcially through its complications:

1.Severe dehydration especially in young children and the very old patients

2.Hypovolemic shock

3.uncompensated metabolic acidosis

4.renal failure

How is Cholera treated?
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Cholera is an infectious disease which can spread to other people through contaminated food and water.
It is therefore advisable to quarantine the patient in hospitals.

1.The most important complication in Cholera is dehydration so prompt replacement of fluids and electrolytes intravenously is necessary.

WHO diarrhea treatment solution consists of
a.4gms of sodium chloride
b.6.5gms of sodium acetate
c.1 gm of potassium chloride
d.10gms of glucose
in 1 liter of sterile distilled water.

Where intravenous administration of diarrhea solution is not available, isotonic drinks and even coconut water may act as replacements.

2. Careful monitoring of the patient as 1 liter of fluid may be lost in the stools in one hour.

3.Antibiotics is the main treatment against cholera.
The best antibiotic is tetracycline or deoxycline.

Symptomatic treatment includes:

1.Paracetamol for relief of fever and headache

2.antispasmodic drug to stop abdominal cramps

3.medicine to harden the stools such as kaolin

4.slow down the intestinal movement (lomotil or loperamide).

Gradually reintroduce food, starting with bland, easy-to-digest food, like porridge or soups.

Get plenty of rest.

How is Cholera prevented?
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Prevention of Cholera can be by vaccination with the cholera vaccine.
However the success rate of immunisation against Cholera is only 20-30% so most doctors do not recommended it.

You can avoid infection by:
Avoid eating or drinking foods or liquids that might be contaminated
Good food hygience

What is the prognosis of Cholera?
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Prognosis is excellent with prompt treatment of rehydration treatment.
After replacement symptoms usually clear within 48 hours with tetracycline treatment.

A Simple Guide to Chlamydia

A Simple Guide to Chlamydia
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What is Chlamydia?
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Chlamydia is a bacterial infection which is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases.
It used to be called Lymphogranuloma venereum because of the typically enlarged lymph nodes at the groins.
It can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), as well as sterility and pregnancy problems.

How do you get Chlamydia?
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Chlamydia is highly contagious.
It spreads by sexual contact with an infected partner.

It can also be transmitted from mother to child during birth.
This may lead to an infection of the eyes and lungs in the infant.

It is also be transmitted through casual sexual contact with other people.

What are the signs & symptoms of Chlamydia?
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About 80% of women and 10% of men display no symptoms.

For the rest the symptoms often appear 7-14 days after transmission in the following ways:

For men:

1.Discharge from a papule on the penis

2.Burning pain and itching when urinating.

3.lymph nodes enlargement at inguinal regions

4. Anal infections in homosexuals

Symptoms present early a few days after exposure, go away, only to return.
Advanced Chlamydia infection may lead to inflammation of the sperm duct (epididymitis), proctitis (anal region) and sterility.

For women:

1.Vaginal itching or discharge.

2.Abdominal pain,

3.Bleeding between menstrual periods

4.Low grade fever

5.Anal infections

The disease can also cause cervicitis, endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease which can result in sterility.

For infants:

1.Fever

2.Pneumonia

3.Conjunctivitis

Symptoms usually show up one week to one month after exposure.

Besides the above symptoms, headache, conjunctivitis, skin rashes, nausea and vomiting can be present.

How can Chlamydia be detected?
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Women may be tested through the insertion of a swab into the cervix during a pelvic exam.

Men can be examined by inserting a swab into the urethra to take a specimen.

Urine testing can also be done for both sexes.

Blood test for chlamydia can also be done.

What is the Treatment of Chlamydia?
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Early treatment is important as it can protect against problems like pelvic inflammatory disease as well as sterility and pregnancy problems.

Patients typically undergo antibiotic treatment (usually tetracycline or sulphonamides) for a week.
The medication can be taken orally.
This treatment must be followed through even when symptoms of Chlamydia disappear.

Alcohol should be avoided when taking antibiotics, as well as milk and other dairy products.

Where Chlamydia has been transmitted through sexual contact, it is essential that both sexual partners are treated for the disease.

It is recommended that both partners abstain from sexual activity from the time of diagnosis until they have completed treatment.

Follow-up treatment is also important, as doctors need to make sure the infection has been cured.

How can I avoid contracting Chlamydia?
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The best way to prevent Chlamydia is through improved hygiene standards and lifestyle changes.

Sexually active persons should use condoms.

Abstinence is recommended for those infected and on antibiotic treatment.

One's risk for Chlamydia, or any other sexually transmitted disease, increases with the number of sexual partners.
Prevention is always better than cure!