Archive for the ‘Cholera’ Category
Symptoms Of Cholera
The first symptoms of cholera disease by Vibrio cholerae occur 2 to 5 days after infection and are given by the action of cholera toxin that binds to the level of intestinal cell membranes causing vomiting, loose bowel movements with abundant remains intestinal mucosa “rice water” and Borbor with abdominal pain. The loss of water by feces can reach numbers as 15 to 24 liters per day, which causes such severe dehydration that can kill the patient by hypovolemic shock and acid-base and electrolyte imbalance.
The evacuations have virtually no protein, sodium concentrations are equal to those in plasma, but concentrations of potassium and bicarbonate are five times higher than those in plasma, which is why patients often develop metabolic acidosis and hypokalemia. The mortality in hospitalized cases correctly treated with fluids, electrolytes and glucose is less than 1%, but in those cases that do not receive timely and adequate care, this percentage may reach 60% of all children under 5 years with malnutrition.
What is Cholera?
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection, severe, characterized by the appearance of abundant diarrheal stools, with vomiting and dehydration that can lead the patient to acidosis and circulatory collapse within 24 hours and untreated cases can lead to death. Common are cases in which only mild diarrhea is present and it is this characteristic in children.
Cholera is caused by an infectious agent, it is an aerobic bacillus, Gram negative, with a single polar flagellum which gives it great mobility called Vibrio cholerae. The Vibrio cholerae survive for periods up to 7 days outside the body, especially in humid and temperate water survives in a few hours to a few weeks if it is contaminated with organic material.
Vibrio cholerae includes two kinds of forms: The classic and variant TOR, the two biotypes are separated into two main serotypes: The Ogawa and Inaba serotype rarely the third Hikojima may be present. These serotypes may change during epidemics. All serotypes produce enterotoxins similar and the clinical picture is very similar.