Treating Cholera: Rehydration First

What to know

• Cholera can cause dehydration that can kill in just a few hours.
• Rehydration — including oral rehydration solution (ORS) — is the most important treatment.
• If you think you or someone in your family might have cholera, start drinking ORS and get medical care at once.

Rehydration

The key treatment replaces the fluids lost through diarrhea and vomiting, using ORS, intravenous (IV) fluids and electrolytes. With timely rehydration, more than 99% of cholera patients survive.

• ORS is a packet of salts and minerals mixed with water that has been boiled or treated. Many people can be fully rehydrated with ORS alone. It's sold in many pharmacies and stores, and during outbreaks governments and aid groups often hand it out.
• Start right away — even on the way to a health facility.
• Severe dehydration may need IV fluids, but patients should still drink ORS as soon as they can.
• No ORS? Drink safe water, broth or other fluids — but not sugary drinks such as juice, soft drinks or sports drinks, which can make diarrhea worse.
• Babies with watery diarrhea should keep getting breast milk or formula.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics may be recommended for severely ill patients and others, depending on their symptoms and health. They can shorten the illness, but must be given along with aggressive rehydration, not instead of it.

Zinc for children

Where available, children aged 6 months to 5 years with suspected cholera should start zinc supplements immediately.

More information

CDC is one of 50 partners in the Global Task Force on Cholera Control, which offers the latest guidance on cholera and its treatment.

Sources

Based on "Treating Cholera," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain. Its stock photograph is not reproduced.