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Cholera

Frederick W Nielson, Medical Doctorate Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • An acute infectious disease caused by the gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae

  • Characterized by severe secretory, watery diarrhea with extreme fluid and electrolyte depletion, vomi...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • History of travel to endemic area and exposure to contaminated food/water source

  • Abrupt onset of explosive, painless watery diarrhea (“rice-water stools”) without tenesmus

  • Abdominal dis...

TREATMENT

  • Primary goal is to replenish fluid losses. With proper treatment, fatality rates are <1%.

  • Treatment starts with evaluating the level of dehydration. Mild dehydration indicates a patient is...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Bed rest until symptoms resolve and strength returns 

Patient Monitoring

Observe patient until symptoms are resolved 

DIET

Small, frequent meals when vomiting stops a...

REFERENCES

1
Chowdury F, Ross AG, Islam MT, et al. Diagnosis, Management, and Future Control of Cholera. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2022;35(3).

ADDITIONAL READING

SEE ALSO

  • Clemens JD, Nair GB, Ahmed T. Cholera. Lancet. 2017;390(10101): 1539-1549

  • International Association for Medical Assistan...

SEE ALSO

Diarrhea, Acute; Oral Rehydration 

CODES

ICD10

  • A00.9 Cholera, unspecified

  • A00.0 Cholera due to Vibrio cholerae 01, biovar cholerae

  • A00.1 Cholera due to Vibrio cholerae 01, biovar eltor

SNOMED

  • 63650001 Cholera (disorder)

  • 240349003 Cholera due...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Personal (food and water selection/preparation; hand hygiene) and public sanitation are the keys to cholera prevention.

  • The current cholera vaccine is not indicated to prevent routine t...

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