Cholera – what is dangerous? Causes, methods of treatment of cholera

The causative agents of cholera

Cholera is one of the threat of intestinal diseases of infectious origin, which refers to quarantine infections. Several decades ago, cholera was found in many countries around the world, spread among people of all ages with great speed and claimed hundreds of lives. Cholera can be compared to such a disease as plague, anthrax, tularemia and other serious infections that can hit the entire continent and becomes the cause of mass mortality among the population.

Nowadays, cholera is not so dangerous as before, and found the disease is extremely rare. The last cholera outbreak was recorded in 1993 in Asia and podarochnye cases in Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Russia. Reduction of disease incidence among the population in different countries was due to international sanitary agreements, which include a number of sanitation for the organization of strict control and quarantine infections.

Cholera — an acute antropologia infection which is the causative agent bacteria of the genus Vibrio cholerae. Infection of these bacteria can happen in several ways, but regardless of this, the disease has an acute onset and delayed medical care leads to the death of a person which occurs as a result of strong intoxication and dehydration.

Etiology

The causative agent of cholera is the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which has the shape of a curved wand. Bacteria are quite mobile and are mostly found in the small intestine. There are more than 140 serotypes of bacteria of this group, but only two types causes the symptoms of cholera: Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio eltor. After penetration into the human body, bacteria begin to actively proliferate, produce large amounts of toxins, which initially damage the mucosa of the small intestine, disrupt electrolyte balance and lead to dehydration. Toxins Vibrio cholerae produces by destroying the mucosa of the small intestine, disrupt the absorption of sodium, leading to disruption of water-salt balance, disruption of the nervous system, convulsions and death.

Cholera retains its activity at a temperature of 16-40 degrees. Resistant to low temperatures and is not killed by freezing. Mainly cause of cholera is one of the types of Vibrio cholerae: group a (endoxin) or (choleragen). Both types of diseases have similar morphology and produce two toxins endoxin and exotoxin (choleragen), which are dangerous for the human body and cause characteristic symptoms. Feature of cholera is the rapid growth in environment of the stomach. The vital functions of the bacteria can be stored for a long time in water, food, and feces and personal belongings of the sick person. Vibrio cholerae is killed by boiling, and under the influence of powerful disinfectants and products containing chlorine. Therefore, in the prevention of disease, it is recommended to use a chlorine-containing substance.

The dangerous toxins of the causative agent of cholera?

Choleragen enterotoxin a, which was isolated bacteria after penetration into the mucosa of the small intestine lead to a sharp increase in the secretion of electrolytes and water, which is removed together with the abundant repeated vomiting and loose stools. Such disturbances in the body cause a decrease in blood volume, there is a thickening of the blood, loss of potassium, which causes metabolic acidosis. Loss of fluid in cholera in the first days and sick days can exceed the weight of the calves of the patient. Such violations lead to convulsions of the limbs, shock, dehydration that is the cause of death of the patient.

Toxins in the course of their life secretes cholera destroy the gastric mucosa, penetrate quickly into the blood stream, resulting in an severe intoxication, with subsequent disruption of nervous and cardiovascular system. Cholera increases the risk of secondary and other infections, which further exacerbates the process of treatment and the patient's condition.

Source of infection

The causative agents of cholera penetrate the mucosa of the stomach through the mouth and then attached to the wall of the small intestine, where they begin their active growth, releasing toxic substances. Infected with cholera through water, food or by contact – household. Most often, the infection occurs through water in the open water, fresh or salted fish. The source of the disease may also be present in dairy products, confectionery, meat, vegetables and fruits.

Cholera is transmitted through dirty hands, utensils or personal items of the sick person. Commonthe mode of transmission is considered to be the faecal-oral route, which involves the separation of bacteria into the environment with vomiting or heavy chair. Airborne infection of cholera are not transmitted.

Risk group

Cholera refers to infections in high susceptibility. Of great importance in its development is the state of the human immune system. At risk to developing this disease are children, and persons with a history of present hypoacidic, anemia, parasitic diseases, pathology of the gastrointestinal tract inflammatory nature.

If a person diagnosed with cholera, it is important to complete his isolation, which will prevent the infection of other people. In areas where visited by the patient is disinfected, and all the people who had contact with an infected person must undergo a series of studies to determine the bacteria of cholera.

What is cholera?

The incubation period for cholera is 2 – 6 days after contact with a source of infection or an infected person. The beginning – sharp, a person has the following symptoms:

• large watery stools, more than 15 times a day,
• nausea, repeated vomiting,
• cramping and acute abdominal pain,
• the increase in body temperature to 40 degrees,
• a heightened sense of thirst,
• dizziness,
• loss of strength.

A few hours after the first symptoms of the disease, is severe dehydration, marked pallor and dryness of the skin, cyanosis of the lips. Facial features were sharpened, appears hoarseness under eyes there are dark circles there is a violation of heart rhythm, increased blood pressure, reduced amount of urine. In such cases, the condition of the patient heavy, and of late assisted can lead to death.

Due to severe dehydration increases the risk of kidney failure, breathing problems and cardiovascular system. That is why at the first sign of illness you must immediately turn to for help to the doctors. The sooner you get diagnosed the source of the infection, the carried out medical manipulation, the greater the chances of recovery.

Method of treatment

Cholera patient requires urgent hospitalization in infectious Department. Due to the risk of infection of others, the patient was placed in a private room. Thus the source of the infection will not spread and harm other people.

Important in the treatment of cholera is the suppression and elimination of pathogenic bacteria from the body and restore electrolyte balance. In hospital to the patient intravenous solutions of potassium chloride and sodium also sodium bicarbonate and glucose. An important step in the treatment given antibiotic therapy. Basically the patient can be assigned to multiple antibacterial drugs of wide spectrum of action. Medical treatment also includes medications that normalize the digestive system: enzymes, probiotics nitrofurans. Such drugs restore the mucous membrane of the stomach, struggling with the source of infection, have a powerful antimicrobial action.

In the acute period assigned to a strict diet that includes eating foods rich in potassium salts. The patient is forbidden to eat fatty, spicy and fried food, you also need to give up alcohol. The cholera treatment in hospital is very important, because at home a positive result should not eat. The entire course of treatment can take up to 14 days. The discharge of a patient from a hospital be conducted only after passing the bacteriological tests for the bacterium of cholera.

The prognosis for recovery is positive only in the cases when the treatment is carried out at the first signs of infection.

Prevention

In regions with high incidence of cholera is specific prevention, which consists of vaccination falernum toxin. In addition to vaccination, prevention of cholera is in compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, proper handling of food, use only boiled water. Such preventive measures can't 100% protect from infection, but will significantly reduce the chances of Contracting cholera.