Tuesday, 9 January 2018

Dr. Ramya V Raghavan, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital, Whitefield

Best blog : NewsPatrolling.com :The recent news on Cholera outbreak in specific areas has put the residents of Bangalore on a high alert. Public awareness concerning the spread of disease can help curb cholera. Precautions and timely treatment is very important to control an outbreak.

Symptoms of cholera:
·         Profuse watery diarrhoea
·         Vomiting
·         Leg cramps and associated symptoms due to dehydration
·         Cholera can cause death due to dehydration within hours if not treated properly.
How is cholera spread?
·         Cholera is a caused by a bacterium called Vibrio Cholerae present in contaminated water and food
·         Cholera does not spread directly from one person to another. It is only spread via faecal contamination of water sources and food.
·         Cholera has a short incubation period from a few hours to around 5 days.
·         Around 75% of people carrying the cholera infection may not show any symptoms but shed the bacterium in their faeces/stools across 7 to 14 days causing infection to other individuals.
The following simple steps can protect you and your family from cholera:
·         Drink and use safe water.
·         Safe water is water that is bottled with an unbroken seal or water that has been boiled or treated via chlorine or other means.
·         Safe water should also be stored in clean covered containers.
·         Wash hands often with soap and safe water.
·         Cook food well. Keep all food items covered.
·         Always wash hands after using a latrine and before preparing any food.
·         Do not defecate in the open or near any water body. Bury the faeces or use a latrine.
Treatment for cholera:
·         First ensure patient is sufficiently hydrated via an Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) solution. In severe case, intravenous fluids will be needed
·         Appropriate antibiotics will be prescribed by your Doctor to shorten the duration of the disease
·         If any person presents with any of the cholera symptoms listed above, then they must immediately go to the nearest hospital or PHC.

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