BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCholeraCholera is a bacterial infection of the small intestine that causes a large amount of watery diarrhea. Causes Cholera is caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae. These bacteria release a toxin that causes an increased amount of water to be released from cells that line the intestines. This increase in water produces severe diarrhea.People develop the infection from eating or drinking food or water that contains the cholera germ. Living in or traveling to areas where cholera is present raises the risk of getting it.Cholera occurs in places with a lack of water treatment or sewage treatment, or crowding, war, and famine. Common locations for cholera include:Africa Some parts of Asia India Bangladesh Mexico South and Central America Symptoms Symptoms of cholera can be mild to severe. They include:Abdominal cramps Abdominal crampsAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dry mucous membranes or dry mouth Dry skin Excessive thirst Glassy or sunken eyes Lack of tears Lethargy LethargyFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low urine output Nausea Rapid dehydration DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rapid pulse (heart rate) Sunken "soft spots" (fontanelles) in infants Unusual sleepiness or tiredness Vomiting Watery diarrhea that starts suddenly and has a fishy odor Exams and Tests Tests that may be done include: Blood culture Blood cultureA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stool culture and Gram stainStool cultureA fecal culture is a lab test to find organisms in the stool (feces) that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gram stainA Gram stain is a test used to identify bacteria. It is one of the most common ways to quickly diagnose bacterial infection in the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goal of treatment is to replace fluid and salts that are lost through diarrhea. Diarrhea and fluid loss can be fast and extreme. It can be hard to replace lost fluids. Depending on your condition, you may be given fluids by mouth or through a vein (intravenous, or IV). Antibiotics may shorten the time you feel ill. IntravenousIntravenous means "within a vein. " Most often it refers to giving medicines or fluids through a needle or tube inserted into a vein. This allows th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed packets of salts that are mixed with clean water to help restore fluids. These are cheaper and easier to use than the typical IV fluid. These packets are now being used around the world. Outlook (Prognosis) Severe dehydration can cause death. Supportive care is critical. Most people will make a full recovery when they are given enough fluids. Possible Complications Complications may include:Severe dehydration Death When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you develop severe watery diarrhea. Also contact your provider if you have signs of dehydration, including: Dry mouth Dry skin "Glassy" eyes No tears Rapid pulse Reduced or no urine Sunken eyes Thirst Unusual sleepiness or tiredness Prevention There is a cholera vaccine available for adults ages 2 to 64 who are traveling to an area with an active cholera outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend the cholera vaccine for most travelers because most people do not travel to areas where cholera is present.Travelers should always be careful when eating food and drinking water, even if they are vaccinated.When outbreaks of cholera occur, efforts should be made to establish clean water, food, and sanitation. Vaccination is not very effective in managing outbreaks.Open ReferencesReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention website. Cholera. About cholera. www.cdc.gov/cholera/about/index.html. Updated May 12, 2024. Accessed July 3, 2024.Gotuzzo E, Seas C. Cholera and other vibrio infections. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 278.Waldor MK, Ryan ET. Vibrio cholerae. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 214.AllVideoImagesTogDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationBacteria - illustration Bacterial infections can lead to the formation of pus, or to the spread of the bacteria in the blood.BacteriaillustrationDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationBacteria - illustration Bacterial infections can lead to the formation of pus, or to the spread of the bacteria in the blood.BacteriaillustrationRelated Information Acute(Special Topic)Diarrhea(Symptoms)Dehydration(Condition)Endemic(Special Topic)Poisoning - fish and shellfish(Poison) Review Date: 3/16/2024 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 07/03/2024. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
CholeraCholera is a bacterial infection of the small intestine that causes a large amount of watery diarrhea. Causes Cholera is caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae. These bacteria release a toxin that causes an increased amount of water to be released from cells that line the intestines. This increase in water produces severe diarrhea.People develop the infection from eating or drinking food or water that contains the cholera germ. Living in or traveling to areas where cholera is present raises the risk of getting it.Cholera occurs in places with a lack of water treatment or sewage treatment, or crowding, war, and famine. Common locations for cholera include:Africa Some parts of Asia India Bangladesh Mexico South and Central America Symptoms Symptoms of cholera can be mild to severe. They include:Abdominal cramps Abdominal crampsAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dry mucous membranes or dry mouth Dry skin Excessive thirst Glassy or sunken eyes Lack of tears Lethargy LethargyFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low urine output Nausea Rapid dehydration DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rapid pulse (heart rate) Sunken "soft spots" (fontanelles) in infants Unusual sleepiness or tiredness Vomiting Watery diarrhea that starts suddenly and has a fishy odor Exams and Tests Tests that may be done include: Blood culture Blood cultureA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stool culture and Gram stainStool cultureA fecal culture is a lab test to find organisms in the stool (feces) that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gram stainA Gram stain is a test used to identify bacteria. It is one of the most common ways to quickly diagnose bacterial infection in the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goal of treatment is to replace fluid and salts that are lost through diarrhea. Diarrhea and fluid loss can be fast and extreme. It can be hard to replace lost fluids. Depending on your condition, you may be given fluids by mouth or through a vein (intravenous, or IV). Antibiotics may shorten the time you feel ill. IntravenousIntravenous means "within a vein. " Most often it refers to giving medicines or fluids through a needle or tube inserted into a vein. This allows th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed packets of salts that are mixed with clean water to help restore fluids. These are cheaper and easier to use than the typical IV fluid. These packets are now being used around the world. Outlook (Prognosis) Severe dehydration can cause death. Supportive care is critical. Most people will make a full recovery when they are given enough fluids. Possible Complications Complications may include:Severe dehydration Death When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you develop severe watery diarrhea. Also contact your provider if you have signs of dehydration, including: Dry mouth Dry skin "Glassy" eyes No tears Rapid pulse Reduced or no urine Sunken eyes Thirst Unusual sleepiness or tiredness Prevention There is a cholera vaccine available for adults ages 2 to 64 who are traveling to an area with an active cholera outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend the cholera vaccine for most travelers because most people do not travel to areas where cholera is present.Travelers should always be careful when eating food and drinking water, even if they are vaccinated.When outbreaks of cholera occur, efforts should be made to establish clean water, food, and sanitation. Vaccination is not very effective in managing outbreaks.Open ReferencesReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention website. Cholera. About cholera. www.cdc.gov/cholera/about/index.html. Updated May 12, 2024. Accessed July 3, 2024.Gotuzzo E, Seas C. Cholera and other vibrio infections. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 278.Waldor MK, Ryan ET. Vibrio cholerae. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 214.