Cholera: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

What it is

Cholera is a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea. The bacterium is usually found in water or food contaminated by feces (poop).

• Where: it's rare in the US. You may catch it traveling where water and sewage treatment are poor, and outbreaks can follow disasters.
• Spread: it's unlikely to spread directly from person to person.

Symptoms

Infections are often mild, and some people have no symptoms. When symptoms come, they usually start 2 to 3 days after infection. The most common is watery diarrhea.

Some cases are severe: heavy watery diarrhea, vomiting and leg cramps. Losing fluid so fast puts you at risk of dehydration and shock — without treatment, you could die within hours. If you think you may have cholera, get medical care right away.

Diagnosis and treatment

Doctors diagnose it from a stool sample or rectal swab. Treatment replaces the fluid and salts lost through diarrhea, usually with a rehydration solution you drink; severe cases may need an IV, and some patients need antibiotics. Most people who get fluid replacement right away recover.

Prevention

There are vaccines; one is available to adults in the US. Very few Americans need it, since most don't visit places with an active outbreak. Simple steps also help:

• use only bottled or purified water for drinking, washing dishes, making ice and brushing your teeth;
• if you use tap water, boil it or use iodine tablets;
• wash your hands often with soap and clean water;
• eat cooked food fully cooked and served hot;
• avoid unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables.

Sources

Based on "Cholera," MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, drawing on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.