Cholera
By Enigma, 5th Feb 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutHealthGeneral HealthDiseases & Infections
Cholera is a water borne disease. It spreads at large rate because of its infectious nature. Killed many people in the history of humans.
Introduction
Cholera is a water borne disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera. The sudden attack, and quick death make cholera a fatal disease. The victim suffer severe pain in the stomach, violent vomiting and uncontrollable watery diarrhoea. The resultant dehydration leads to shrunken features and a bluish tinge all over the body, accompanied by shock, and finally death.
History of disease
The first cholera pandemic that spread through Asia erupted in 1817 in the populous Ganges-Brahmaputra delta in India. Hence the term ‘Asiatic cholera’ is used in the West.
The second pandemic spread across Asia to North Africa, Europe and the Americas, causing a mortality rate of at least fifty per cent. The devastating impact of the dreaded disease was mostly on the pilgrimage centres in Asia, and on the stinking slums of the industrial towns of Europe and North America.
The cause of cholera convinced the western world that the populous towns, as well as the country needed a big clean up. Reforms in sanitation over the second half of the 19th century have achieved radical gains in preventing the disease. Improvements in sanitation and the provision of safe water are still needed in much of the developing world. ‘Sanitation and health for all’ remains as ultimate goal for the 21st century. There is now, however one cheap and simple method of treating the cholera victims- oral rehydration therapy. A simple solution of clean water, salt and sugar. This oral therapy promoted in 1970’s can drastically reduce the mortality rate of cholera.
Comments
11th Feb 2012 (#)
Your Articles are good.
Your article was dealing with a public health issue....would have liked to know why cholera could not eliminated if we have such simple solution like ORT.
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