Cholera is an acute inflammatory disorder of the intestines, caused by bacteria. It is a serious infection, involving the lower part of the small bowel. It is a water-borne disease and is common during monsoon. The disease is predominant in endemic areas like India and other countries of South east and Mid east Asia.
Cholera strikes suddenly. The intestinal canal is filled with bacilli. These bacilli die rapidly and leave the person quickly, alive or dead. This disease comes as a epidemic and creates havoc, but subsides quickly in the locality. Those who are susceptible to it are carried away and those who are left alive become immune to it.
Symptoms
The first symptom of cholera is mild diarrhoea. This is followed by sudden violent purging and lack of proper control of the bowel. The patient feels pain and muscle cramps in the lower abdomen. He suffers from nausea and vomiting. The stools are loose, watery, and greyish-brown in colour.
The sudden loss of fluid causes severe dehydration, and soon the patient begins to feel intense thirst. His tongue becomes white and dry. His skin is wrinkled, the eyeballs sunken and cheeks hollow. Breathing becomes somewhat laboured and difficult. The blood pressure may fall due to the lack of fluids in the body.
The temperature may come down to subnormal, although the pulse rate will be rapid. Unless the fluid is quickly replaced, death may result from complete collapse of the circulation.
Causes
Cholera is caused by a short curved, rod-shaped germs known as vibrio cholerate. This germ produces a powerful poison. It is spread by flies and water contaminated by the germs. The real cause of the disease, however, is the toxic and devitalised condition of the system brought by incorrect feeding habits and faulty style of living. This condition facilitates invasion of cholera germs.