In this 2009 article published amidst a global resurgence of the disease at the time, long-time The Doctor Says columnist Dr Milton Lum explained what cholera is, how it is spread and how to prevent it.
This story originally appeared in StarLifestyle (then known as StarTwo) on 9 December 2009, and has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection that is present in the community at all times, although its frequency may be low (endemic). It is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and is spread by direct faecal to oral contamination or through ingestion of contaminated water and food, which is usually associated with poor management of the environment.
Whenever there is disruption of water supply and sanitation systems, there is an increased risk of the infection spreading if it is present or introduced. Person to person transmission is rare because the number of bacteria needed to cause an infection is very high.
The incubation period of cholera ranges from two hours to five days, with the common range between two to 72 hours. The relatively short incubation leads to an outbreak which is explosive, with many people affected in a short period of time.
Cholera affects both children and adults. Unlike other infections that cause diarrhoea, it can lead to severe dehydration, acute kidney failure and even death in a few hours. People whose immunity is impaired such as HIV/AIDS patients have a greater risk of death if infected.
Most people (about 75%) with cholera infection do not have any symptoms. Such people are called carriers. However, the bacteria remain in their faeces for one to two weeks and are shed back into the environment, which is a source of infection for other people.
Diagnosis
After a short incubation period, the person with cholera has an acute watery diarrhoea which is frequently associated with vomiting and muscle cramps. Because of the large amount of body fluids lost, the infected person suffers from dehydration and its complications which include changes in the body’s pH.
The clinical features of cholera are different from dysentery which is often due to the bacterium, shigella. The features of this infection include frequent loose stools of small volume, consisting mainly blood and mucus. There is usually fever, abdominal pain and the urge to open the bowels, even straining, without producing stools (tenesmus). The dehydration is not as severe as that of cholera.
Campylobacter infections also cause diarrhoea. The clinical features range from a mild, self-limiting diarrhoea to severe bloody diarrhoea with high fever and bacteria in the blood stream (septicaemia). The spectrum of illness in those whose immunity is impaired especially HIV/AIDS may be relapsing or unremitting and may be accompanied by septicaemia and infections of body parts apart from the intestines.
The diagnosis of cholera is confirmed by finding the bacterium in the infected person’s stools. The availability of a rapid diagnostic test has made it possible for quicker diagnosis of the infection.
Treatment
The treatment of cholera is founded on prompt correction of the dehydration. This can be in the form oral rehydration salts (ORS) and/or intravenous fluids. ORS can provide adequate treatment for up to 80% of patients. However, those who have severe dehydration have to be treated with intravenous fluids.
Antibiotics are also used in the treatment of cholera as they reduce the duration of illness and the volume of body fluids lost leading to a decrease in the fluid requirements for rehydration.
Antibiotic resistance is not uncommon during cholera epidemics. There is wide variation in the patterns of antibiotic resistance at different times and different places. However, the cholera strains often become sensitive to the antibiotics that they were previously resistant to.
As the stools, vomitus and even the soiled clothes of cholera patients are very contagious, hand hygiene is crucial to preventing its spread. The hands have to be washed systematically with soap and water or disinfectants before and after providing care on every occasion. They also have to be washed after defaecation and before handling food or eating. Food has to be prepared and kept in a hygienic manner. The toilets and other water containers used by infected patients have to be washed with disinfectants. The patients are usually isolated from other patients to prevent spread.
Prevention
The preventive measures in cholera outbreaks primarily involve the provision of clean water and proper sanitation to those who are likely to be affected. Health education and good food hygiene play an important role, especially hand hygiene. This requires the commitment and active participation not only from health care staff but also other sectors including water provision, sewage disposal, education and information.
There are cholera vaccines available. The oral vaccine is suitable for those who are travelling to an area where cholera is endemic. The two doses of the oral vaccine, of which there are three types available, are taken 10 to 15 days apart. The protection provided ranges from 65 to 85%. Although it has recently been used in mass vaccination, there is no convincing evidence that it provides long-term protection. The use of the injectable vaccine is limited as its efficacy is low and the risk of adverse reactions is high.
The prescription of antibiotics to all members of a community in which there is an outbreak does not affect its spread. Instead, it can create a false sense of security and may pose problems like development of antibiotic resistance.
* Dr Milton Lum is a past president of the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations and the Malaysian Medical Association. For more information, email starhealth @thestar.com.my. The views expressed do not represent that of organisations that the writer is associated with. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.