Cholera: synopsis of clinical aspects and principles of treatment.
Cholera varies greatly in clinical severity; the mortality of untreated severe cholera may be as high as 60% The main clinical feature is dehydration; fluid lost in the stools may amount to 60/. Rehydration is the cornerstone of treatment. The amount of fluid required is approximately 10% of body weight in severe dehydration and 5 to 8% in moderate dehydration. Fluid therapy, which must be individualized, may be successful on its own, but chemo-therapy shortens the duration of illness. Tetracycline (in adults, 40 mg/kg for 2 days; in children, 50 mg/kg for 2 days) reduces the fluid loss and eliminates the causative organisms. Vaccination is of limited value.
D000328:Adult; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002771:Cholera / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003681:Dehydration / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005664:Furazolidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000302:isolation & purification
D001639:Bicarbonates; D007773:Lactates; D005664:Furazolidone; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D013752:Tetracycline