Cholera is a diarrheal disease caused by a bacterium. Cholera is spread among other things with contaminated water or food. The disease is usually found in countries with poorly functioning water and wastewater treatment.
There is a drinkable vaccine for cholera, but you usually only need vaccination if you are going to stay long in areas where the disease is common.
When should I seek care?
Seek medical attention immediately if you have any of the following symptoms of cholera:
- Water-thin diarrhea that makes you very tired and weak.
- High fever and freezing.
- Severe abdominal pain or recurrent vomiting.
Symptoms of cholera
It usually takes a few days to a week from the time you become infected to get sick.
Those who have become infected with cholera get water-thin diarrhea and you quickly lose large amounts of fluid.
So does cholera
The infection is spread among other things with contaminated water or with food that is not properly cooked or fried.
Treatment for cholera
Those who have lost large amounts of fluid must quickly replace the fluid loss in order not to become dehydrated. Often it is enough that you are treated with fluid replacement, which you drink. If you need to seek care and are very dehydrated, you get fluid directly into your bloodstream through drip. Sometimes you can get treatment with antibiotics.