Vibrio cholerae is a motile curved gram negative rod, and is the cause of secretory diarrhoea that is caused by a toxin which acts on the enterocytes. The incubation period can vary from a few hours up to three days.
This disease is typically spread through faecal contamination of potable drinking water.
Patients may experience an abrupt and painless watery diarrhoea which is referred to as 'rice-water' diarrhoea, and can be present in quantities up to thirty litres a day.
The main signs of this disease include profound dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, specifically reduced levels of sodium, chloride and bicarbonate.
Treatment of this disease typically involves accurate fluid balance, oral rehydration solutions, and intravenous fluids.
Possible complications of cholera can include circulatory collapse, arrhythmias, and death.
Excellent with treatment and support, the introduction of oral rehydration solutions has drastically reduced the mortality rate of severe cholera from fifty percent down to one percent.
