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Cholera

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Microbiology

  • caused by infection with Vibrio cholerae
  • faecal-oral spread
    • direct person-person transmission is relatively rare
    • usual route of transmission is via contaminated food or water
  • current epidemic of 0139 serotype in Indian subcontinent and Indonesia

Clinical features

  • asymptomatic infection common (~75%)
  • diarrhoea
    • profuse "rice water stools"
  • vomiting
  • dehydration
    • fluid loss of up to 1L/h

Treatment

  • rehydration essential to prevent hypovolaemic shock and renal failure
 

©Charles Gomersall, October, 2009 unless otherwise stated. The author, editor and The Chinese University of Hong Kong take no responsibility for any adverse event resulting from the use of this webpage.
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