Cholera Flashcards
What pathogen causes cholera?
Vibrio cholerae
What pathogen causes cholera?
Vibrio cholerae
What is the method of transmission of Cholera?
Food borne, water borne
What is the global distribution of cholera?
Asia, Africa and Latin America
What is the incubation period of cholera ?
Two hours to 5 days
What is the site of action of the pathogen of cholera?
Wall of small intestine
What are the clinical features of cholera?
Severe diarrhoea(‘rice water’), loss of water and salts, dehydration, weakness
What are the methods of diagnosis of cholera?
Dipstick test of rectal swabs; identification of V. cholerae in faecal samples using microscopy
What was the annual incident worldwide of cholera in 2017?
1,300,000 to 4,000,000 (WHO estimate)
What was the annual mortality worldwide in 2017?
21,000 to 143,000 (WHO estimate)
Where does cholera commonly occur?
As the disease is water borne, cholera occurs people do not have access to proper sanitation (clean water supply) and/or uncontaminated food
3/4 of people with cholera may be
Symptomless
How are the cholera bacteria transmitted to uninfected people
Infected people pass out large numbers of bacteria in their feaces. if these contaminate the water supply or the infected people handle food or cooking utensils without washing their hands then bacteria are transmitted to uninfected people
Why are the pathogen that causes cholera unlikely to reach small intestine?
Because to reach their site of action, they have to pass through the stomach. The contents are sufficiently acidic (pH less than 4.5), the bacteria are unlikely to survive.
What happens when the pathogen of cholera reach small intestine?
The multiply and secrete the toxin choleragen