Symptoms, diagnosis, consequences and treatment of cholera

What is cholera?

Cholera is infection, which is caused by Vibrio cholerae, or cholera webroom, the structure of which resembles a comma is a slightly curved stick. When it enters the human body primarily affects the small intestine. Vibron, cholera secretes a toxin that causes watery or secretory diarrhea. This exotoxin is the trigger for a series of chemical reactions. As a result, in the intestinal lumen begins to actively serve the water and electrolytes, and then develops diarrhea. If time does not begin treatment, these condition lead to: dehydration, dehydration and collapse (decrease in blood pressure and consequently, hypoxia of tissues and organs, violation of metabolism) and oligouria (decrease of daily doses of urine).

Referring to the "Small academic dictionary" can meet the definition cholera is an acute infectious disease of the intestine, accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, decrease in body temperature and convulsions. Cholera is a contagious disease, the microorganism is supplied to the person, often using untreated water, and sea foods. To diagnose it requires kulturalnie research, or in other words, culture, and serological methods, that is, the taking of blood for laboratory analysis.

Treatment of cholera is active rehydration therapy doxycyline or other antibacterial drugs, as well as the compensation of electrolyte losses. If therapy is not carried out properly, it may cause life threatening condition and even death. It therefore should not only know the definition of cholera, but also to understand its symptoms, and also to be able to distinguish it from other similar diseases.

The symptoms of cholera

Overcome the gastric barrier, webroom cholera enters the small intestine and begins to actively proliferate. For microorganisms is very nutrient medium, consisting of bile and food proteins. Due to their tumultuous life, toxins which cause the initial stage of the disease.

Symptoms begin to appear after approximately 3 days after infection. If the person shortly before the infection took antibiotics, the incubation period may be delayed up to a week or even more.

Inregular situations the body reacts in the following way:

• If the disease is expressed in mild, there is occasional vomiting and diarrhea with fluid loss of up to 3% of body weight. If Vibrio cholera comes from the body completely, after two days illness terminated;

• In the course of cholera in a medium degree symptoms such as: repeated diarrhoea, up to 20 times per day, the feces has a muddy color. In the stomach there are frequent sharp pains, and false urge to empty his bowels. A person loses up to 6% liquid by weight;
• If the cholera is severe, to the above symptoms is added shortness of breath, possible convulsions and cyanosis of the extremities. While abdominal pain is not sharp, but blunt, the place of their localization – umbilical and epigastric region. Fluid loss can be up to 9% of body weight.

The time of exposure of the microorganism in large intestine almost impossible to calculate, since at this stage there is a specific signs. Nevertheless, during the incubation period include such symptoms as sweating, palpitations, cold extremities, slight increase in body temperature, weakness and malaise, headache, dry mouth and rumbling stomach.

But these symptoms are manifested not always, and often the disease has an acute onset. The first symptom to which you should pay attention to is a sharp urge to defecate, to restrain which is not possible. At this time, the feces is mushy or liquid form. As increased frequency of stool the stools are like rice water: are muddy color, sometimes there are flakes, painted in gray color. The smell is either missing or there is a smell of fresh water. Fever is not among the symptoms that characterize the beginning of cholera. Prodrome or oiled, or non-existent.

The most dangerous and includes some atypical forms of cholera with the following simptomami:

• The "dry" form when diarrhea and vomiting are not observed, at the same time, the intestine filled with water. This is due to the paralysis of his muscles, diarrhea't have the time to develop and the disease ends in death;
• Erased form has a minimal set of symptoms, they are sluggish, but fleeting. The General condition is not disturbed and the patient poses a real threat to the health of others, as not seek medical help;
• Lightning form. The disease begins abruptly and reaches its peak in a few hours, all body functions are inhibited, the pressure quicklyfalls. Such a course often leads to the death of a person or ends with a coma.

You should know that in addition to a sharp start with the manifestation of any symptoms webroom cholera may simply reside in the human body, and the disease will occur in a subclinical form, that is hidden.

Diagnosis of cholera

Diagnosis is usually not difficult if specific symptoms (vomiting and diarrhea without fever), but in a few cases of cholera have been mild with blurred symptoms. It is in these situations, which are commonplace, require laboratory diagnosis.

Bacteriological study needed as stool and vomit. In laboratory conditions determined by fibrinoliticescuu, this requires a stool. If the person died from cholera, the study take a segment of the small intestine and part of the gallbladder.

The observance of certain conditions when determining the presence of Vibrio cholera required:

• Sowing must be quickly delivered to the laboratory;
• Container to collect the stool and vomit should not contain even the slightest traces of chemicals, as cholerae is extremely sensitive to them;
• The possibility of infection must be completely ruled out.

If it is not possible to deliver the material on the diagnosis within 3 hours, it is necessary to use preservatives in which Vibrio can survive. Transportation is carried out in a metal container on a specialized transport. All samples sign up with the obligatory indication of the time of collection of the material and its name. The result can be obtained already after 3 hours if you use Express method, after 8 hours will be ready with a preliminary answer, and concluding after 9 hours or more.

The consequences and complications of cholera

Usually, with proper and adequate treatment, timely restoration of water-salt balance of the complications of cholera is. If the dehydration has reached a critical point, the disease can result for a person very badly – with death. The death is the result either of sepsisor hypovolemic shock, or DIC. The pathogen does not affect organ systems, therefore, after the cure they remain functional.

As possible complications after the disease, and during its course, it is possible to allocate the following:

• Renal insufficiency caused by disorders of the organs. As a result, there is a disorder of metabolism;
• Convulsions individual groups of muscles;
• The development of myocardial infarction, especially in the elderly;

• Inflammation of the veins –phlebitis;

• Perhaps the development of pneumonia;

• Cerebrovascular disease and respiratory failure;
• A drop in blood pressure;
• The risk of permanent carriers of the pathogen without manifestations of symtomatic;

Once the disease is in the body continue to circulate antibodies to this pathogen. But it does not guarantee that infected other subspecies of vibron of cholera impossible.

Treatment of cholera

Major medical events include the following:

• The administration of antibacterial drugs to which the organism is sensitive;
• If there is dehydration moderate to severe severity, the patient is prescribed the water-salt solution and a glucose solution injected intravenously;
• To maintain the normal functioning of the digestive tract and restore it work prescribe a course of probiotics.
• After the disease needs monitoring in the clinic by place of residence for at least 3 months.

These activities it is advisable to begin early, when the manifestation of the first symptoms. The efficiency of the medication ensures a speedy recovery with minimal losses for the body. As for diet, its in this disease is not prescribed.

In the absence of vomiting and degree of dehydration, patients are administered one of the following types of antibiotics: doxycyline, ofloxacin, tetracycline, levomycetin and others. The course of treatment is 5 days, dosage determined by the physician, the drugs are taken in pill form.

In the presence of vomiting and severe dehydration, the following antibiotics: amikacin, gentamicin, doxycyline, sisomicin and others. Medications, the course of treatment is 5 days.

Even in cases of suspected cholera, the patient undergoes a medical examination, and contact with persons is isolated. Extract comes afterfull recovery, in the absence of symptoms, and after 3 negative culture results.

A recommendation for persons who have had cholera, a release from sports and heavy physical work for 3 months. For those patients, a disease which leaked in a heavy form.

Prevention of cholera

As the disease is contagious, should be aware of basic preventive measures aimed at addressing ways of transmission:

• The performance of all known hygienic procedures and compliance with sanitary standards such as washing hands, eating food after heat treatment, drinking clean water, etc.;
• You need to be careful to visit those places and regions where outbreaks of diseases;
• Products used in food must be protected from insects. Quite often it flies are carriers of cholera and other infectious diseases, especially insects, have visited landfills and garbage cans;
• All rooms where were sick should be thoroughly disinfected;
• The person had contact with infected people exposed to cholera hospitalization until the determination of the presence or absence in the organism Vibrio cholera;
• Wastewater needs to be disinfected;
• Water in places of mass bathing in the waters of the port shall be subjected to specific research.

If a person is sent to the region, where outbreaks of the disease, then the advance is one-time vaccination. Prolonged stay in a dangerous area carry out revaccination 3 months after receiving the initial dose.

International epidemiological rules require all persons arriving from affected countries, or subject to observation for 5 days, on the subject of Contracting cholera.

So, cholera is a disease of insidious, can pass without trace, not leaving behind any memories, and can lead to death, infected by an enormous number of people, as well as very serious complications. To determine the presence of microorganism is possible only in laboratory conditions, but knowing the main symptoms of the disease and its danger, people are able to seek medical help. The success of treatment directly depends on which stage it will be launched. Modern medicine has accumulated considerable experience in combating the cholera Vibrio and has a clear sequence of actionsin case of detection. That is why in developed countries, outbreaks of cholera are recorded very rarely.