Taking a Look at Cholera

Causes: Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The bacteria releases a toxin that causes increased release of water from cells in the intestines, which produces severe

Outbreaks of cholera were not isolated to the European and Asian continents, as several major cases within the United States have been recorded back to colonial times. As trade increased with the old world, infected sailors bringing the disease to major port cities, spreading it even further as products became distributed across the nation. Famously documented as one of the most vital turning points for public health medicine within the US, the city of Chicago mirrored what was unfolding in the 1854 London outbreak. Congruent to Snow’s findings, entire families suddenly became severely ill and dying off. As an effort to combat the pestilence, Ellis Chesbrough, an already established railroad engineer, designed a series of sewer systems modeled

Between the 1830’s to 1860’s, cholera spread into the United States from India by trade routes. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by drinking or eating material that is infected with Vibrio cholerae. Cholera causes watery diarrhoea, but can show days later or never show

Cholera most likely originated in India as many as 1,000 years ago. The earliest documentation of recorded symptoms is from a medical report written in 1563. Later, the first cholera pandemic initiated in 1817 when the bacterium spread from India to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Russia, the East African coast and the Middle East and lasted until 1823. Modernization eventually increased the extent of the illness through providing means by which the bacteria could spread. On its own, Cholera would have remained separated from the rest of the world by miles of land and sea, but technological innovations connected the continents, and it did not take long for the bacteria to infect the precise human beings who would provide them safe travel. In 1826, unknowing merchants inadvertently carried the disease over trade

12 Joaquín Sánchez; Jan Holmgren (February 2011). "Cholera toxin – A foe & a friend" (PDF). Indian Journal of Medical Research. 133. p. 158.

Vibrio cholerae is a bacterium that infects the intestines of humans (CDC, 2016). While there are several strains of vibrio cholerae, only two types have been known to cause cholera outbreaks and only one (type O1) is responsible for outbreaks globally (WHO, 2015). Cholera infection is an acute diarrheal disease (CDC, 2016). It is extremely virulent and can affect children and adults with equal severity if left untreated (WHO, 2015). Vibrio cholerae has a short incubation period of 2 to 5 days, an aspect of the disease that leads to severe patterns of outbreaks (WHO, 2015).

They explain that cholera is “an acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated” (World Health Organization, 2016).

As for cholera epidemic that cause environmental factors that promote the growth of bacterial accumulation and plagued humanity. Its an acute diarrheal infection caused by bacterium Vibrio cholera, which provokes disease in humans. “Vibrio cholera is a slightly curved gram negative rod with single polar flagellum. Cholera bacilli grows in the small intestine and produce an exotoxin, cholera toxin that cause hosts cells to secrete water and electrolytes, as well as potassium” [16]. It results in watery diarrhea and vomiting, if not treated it can cause a massive lost in bodily fluids that will cause dehydration, hypovolemic shock and death. As well as, rapid heart rate, loss of skin elasticity, dry mucous membranes, low blood pressure, thirst

Cases of Cholera can be seen in places with poor sanitation, war, and famine, such as in places like Africa, Asia, India, Mexico, and South and Central America. Currently Cholera can't be eradicated but with certain techniques

The rehydration with plenty of fluids, whether oral or intravenous is the prime method to treat patients with cholera. The use of antibiotics along with rehydration is the preferred method of treatment for cholera. The antibiotics help stop the growth of the bacteria thus killing off any bacteria that is present. Some of the antibiotics that are used are Ciprofloxacin, Doxycycline, and Azithromycin.

Cholera is a waterborne diarrheal disease that can be severely detrimental to a person’s health if not treated properly. According to the World Health Organization, cholera is a bacterial disease that originated in India in the 19th century, with seven pandemics spreading around the globe and killing millions of people.1 The current pandemic is still around, and cholera in present times is estimated to affect anywhere from 1.4 to 4.3 million children and adults every year.1 The disease is especially rampant during the rainy season, when the climate is wet and the bacteria spread easily.2 The bacteria strain Vibrio cholerae can culture itself in water, thus contaminating it and making the water dangerous to anyone who

In 19th Century London was suffering very badly with the Cholera during that time Dr. John Snow was the member of the Royal college of Surgeons and he made significantly contributions to the medical research. That time people’s belief was dieses was the results of the evil’s behavior. At that time there were two theories for the notation for Cholera. First, Miasma theory which is opposed by Snow. Second, the germ theory which was accepted by Snow. Snows hypotheised that the Cholera spreaded due to the spoiled water. He also pointed out that the risk to catch the dieses depends on the people’s life style, work and contact with sick person, regular habits.

“In 1872, Alfred Haviland stated that ‘typhoid fever is now a national disgrace; we ought not to rest until we reduce it to one simply local or personal; its existence will then become punishable’” (Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences [JHMAS], 2010). Typhoid was not the only disease that plagued London at the time, cholera was also very widespread. “Before the cholera outbreak of 1849, it was believed that Thames water abstracted between the bridges in London was perfectly safe, as testified by the evidence of many experts, but that belief cost London 25,000 lives in 1849 and 1854.” There are two reasons why these diseases were so prevalent during this time. One was due to having little knowledge in the subject of diseases and how the microorganisms that caused them functioned. Dr. George Turner provided some insight into this subject. In regard to the bacillus of typhoid and cholera “That, he said, which kills one does not affect another; that which favours the propagation of one does not favour the propagation of another.” He goes on to say that if the filtration system can mechanically hold back the smaller germs of typhoid, it should also be able to hold back the larger microbes of cholera. Although, he follows it up with he distinctly thought this argument could not be carried from one bacillus to another until it was actually

Cholera is a diarrhoeal infection caused by consuming food or water that has been contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae (WHO, 2016). After the January 2010 earthquake, Haiti experienced an outbreak of cholera with 60,240 cumulative cases and 1,415 deaths by November 2010. Haiti has reported approximately 800,000 cases of cholera and 9,300 deaths ever since (WHO, 2016). Since hurricane Matthew struck in Haiti on October 4, 2016, there have been increasing numbers of cholera cases in the following departments: Grand’Anse (148 cases), Sud (53 cases), Nord-Ouest (6 cases), and Artibonite (28 cases). The World Health Organization is currently supporting Haiti by sending one million doses of the Oral Cholera Vaccines (WHO, 2016).

When anything contaminated is ingested into the human body symptoms can appear within hours after consumption.As a result, the infected suffer, “from sudden, explosive,unrelenting diarrhea, often accompanied by vomiting” leaving the person drained of all fluids within hours.(American Philosophical Society). Due to the major loss of fluids, the skin turns a bluish tint and the blood develops a tar-like thickness. In deadly cases individuals become living corpses with their face, “rendered completely ghastly by the complete removal of all the soft solids” and the skin becoming weathered and wrinkled.(American Philosophical Society). Cholera is a cruel virus that completely destroys the body ,when left untreated, leaving individuals drained and tired. Sad to say, but no one is safe from this infection that loosens the intestines and rectum.Cholera is an unforeseen illness that can kill many people in just a few minutes and that's the case for Nigel Chigudu who lost, “ five siblings within 5 hours” leaving a trail of opportunity for the virus to spread. (UNICEF). Cholera can burn through communities with no end in sight unless precautionary steps are