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Cholera - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Cholera : \Chol"er*a\, n. [L., a bilious disease. See Choler.]
(Med.)
One of several diseases affecting the digestive and
intestinal tract and more or less dangerous to life, esp. the
one commonly called Asiatic cholera.
Asiatic cholera, a malignant and rapidly fatal disease,
originating in Asia and frequently epidemic in the more
filthy sections of other lands, to which the germ or
specific poison may have been carried. It is characterized
by diarrhea, rice-water evacuations, vomiting, cramps,
pinched expression, and lividity, rapidly passing into a
state of collapse, followed by death, or by a stage of
reaction of fever.
Cholera bacillus. See Comma bacillus.
Cholera infantum, a dangerous summer disease, of infants,
caused by hot weather, bad air, or poor milk, and
especially fatal in large cities.
Cholera morbus, a disease characterized by vomiting and
purging, with gripings and cramps, usually caused by
imprudence in diet or by gastrointestinal disturbance.
Chicken cholera. See under Chicken.
Hog cholera. See under Hog.
Sporadic cholera, a disease somewhat resembling the Asiatic
cholera, but originating where it occurs, and rarely
becoming epidemic.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Cholera : dehydration which, unless immediately treated, may be fatal.
Cholera was discovered in 1883 to be due to infection with isolate the organism nor infect animals with it.
Later in 1883 Koch went to India, where he wrote that he succeeded in isolating "a little bent [bacilli], like a comma." He discovered that the bacteria thrived in damp dirty linen and moist earth
and in the stools of patients with the disease.
The key to treating cholera is prompt and complete replacement of the fluid and salt lost through the profuse diarrhea. Patients are rehydrated with an oral solution which is a prepackaged
mixture of sugar and salts that is then mixed with water and drunk in large amounts. With prompt and complete oral rehydration, fewer than 1% of cholera patients now die.
Very severe cases of cholera, especially those in which intravenous fluid replacement. Antibiotics do shorten the course and diminish the severity of the illness, but they are not as important
as rehydration.
Thanks to modern sanitary practices, cholera is no longer as common as it once was, but it remains a global health threat. Epidemics will occur whenever people live in unsanitary crowded conditions,
as in refuge camps. At the turn of the new millennium, epidemics of cholera were reported in Madagascar, Somalia, and Mecca. After a group of French Moslems returned from the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca,
they came down with cholera. French health authorities found traces of cholera in 2,700 liters (700 gallons) of water they had brought back to France in barrels. The water was for distribution to
members of the Moslem community who were unable to go to Mecca for the annual pilgrimage.
The genes of cholera: The entire genetic information of an organism is scientifically referred to as its genome. The genome of Vibrio cholera was fully sequenced in the year 2000. It has over
4 million bases in its pathogenic (capable of causing disease).
Like other Asian cholera although Asia has no monopoly on Vibrio cholerae.
Based on University of Miami School of Medicine [Medical_Dictionary]:
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Cholera : What is cholera?
Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The infection is often mild or without symptoms,
but sometimes can be severe.
Approximately 1 in 20 infected persons has severe disease characterized by profuse watery dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours.
How does a person get cholera?
A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination
is usually the feces (stool) of an infected person. The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water.
The cholera bacterium may also live in the environment in brackish rivers and coastal waters. Shellfish eaten raw have been a source of cholera, and a few persons in the United States have
contracted cholera after eating raw or undercooked shellfish from the Gulf of Mexico. The disease is not likely to spread directly from one person to another; therefore, casual contact with an infected
person is not a risk for becoming ill.
What is the risk for cholera in the United States?
In the United States, cholera was prevalent in the 1800s but has been virtually eliminated by modern sewage and water treatment
systems. However, as a result of improved transportation, more persons from the United States travel to parts of Latin America, Africa, or Asia where epidemic cholera is occurring. U.S. travelers to
areas with epidemic cholera may be exposed to the cholera bacterium. In addition, travelers may bring contaminated seafood back to the United States; foodborne outbreaks have been caused by
contaminated seafood brought into this country by travelers.
What should travelers do to avoid getting cholera?
The risk for cholera is very low for U.S. travelers visiting areas with epidemic cholera. When simple precautions are observed,
contracting the disease is unlikely.
All travelers to areas where cholera has occurred should observe the following recommendations: - Drink only water that you have boiled or treated with chlorine or iodine. Other safe
beverages include tea and coffee made with boiled water and carbonated, bottled beverages with no ice.
- Eat only foods that have been thoroughly cooked and are still hot, or fruit that you have
peeled yourself.
- Avoid undercooked or raw fish or shellfish, including ceviche.
- Make sure all vegetables are cooked, avoid salads.
- Avoid foods and beverages from street vendors.
- Do not
bring perishable seafood back to the United States.
A simple rule of thumb is "Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it. "
Is a vaccine available to prevent cholera?
A vaccine for cholera is available; however, it confers only brief and incomplete immunity and is not recommended for travelers. There
are no cholera vaccination requirements for entry or exit in any Latin American country or the United States.
Can cholera be treated?
Cholera can be simply and successfully treated by immediate replacement of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhea. Patients can be treated with oral
rehydration solution, a prepackaged mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with water and drunk in large amounts. This solution is used throughout the world to treat diarrhea. Severe cases also require
intravenous fluid replacement. With prompt rehydration, fewer than 1% of cholera patients die.
Antibiotics shorten the course and diminish the severity of the illness, but they are not as important as rehydration. Persons who develop severe diarrhea and vomiting in countries where cholera
occurs should seek medical attention promptly.
Where can a traveler get information about cholera?
The global picture of cholera changes periodically, so travelers should seek updated information on countries of interest. The
U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintains a travelers' information telephone line on which callers can receive recent information on cholera and other diseases of concern to travelers. Data for
this service are obtained from the World Health Organization. The number is 877-FYI-TRIP (394-8747).
Based on University of Miami School of Medicine [Medical_Dictionary]:
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Example Usage of Cholera |
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Dandie00: I'm laughing at how the movie How The West Was Won ireminds me of Oregon Trail. That game was fun. "You have Cholera. Game over." |
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wibyrch: Cholera |
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secretkeeper: I'm reading Love in the Time of Cholera again. Want to see how i'll feel about it now that I'm older, and not such a romantic anymore |
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