Friday 1 November 2013

Cholera: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention

Ok, here's another one...Cholera's been tearing our community up recently, so I thought to reveal certain causes, symptoms and preventive measures...trust me, I go break am down wella!

CHOLERA is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea , which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae.

The disease is most common in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine. Common locations include parts of Africa, south Asia, and Latin America. If you are traveling to one of those areas, knowing the following cholera facts can help protect you and your family.

Cholera Causes
Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, is usually found in food or water contaminated by feces from a person with the infection. Common sources include:
  • Municipal water supplies
  • Ice made from municipal water (Ice Block thingz)
  • Foods and drinks sold by street vendors (Mama put dem)
  • Vegetables grown with water containing human wastes (Ugwu, Water leaf, Eforiro dem)
  • Raw or undercooked fish and seafood caught in waters polluted with sewage (Ejanla thingz)
When a person consumes the contaminated food or water, the bacteria release a toxin in the intestines that produces severe diarrhea. It is not likely you will catch cholera just from casual contact with an infected person (una dey hear?).

Cholera Symptoms (abeg, make una read dis one well o)

Symptoms of cholera can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection. Often symptoms are mild. But sometimes they are very serious. About one in 20 people infected have severe watery diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration. Although many infected people may have minimal or no symptoms, they can still contribute to spread of the infection.
Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Loss of skin elasticity (the ability to return to original position quickly if pinched)
  • Dry mucous (small english, abeg check ur pikin biology textbook)  membranes, including the inside of the mouth, throat, nose, and eyelids
  • Low blood pressure
  • Thirst
  • Muscle cramps
If not treated, dehydration can lead to shock and death in a matter of hours.

Cholera Treatment and Prevention
Although there is a vaccine against cholera, the CDC and World Health Organization don't normally recommend it because it may not protect up to half of the people who receive it and it lasts only a few months. However, you can protect yourself and your family by using only water that has been boiled, water that has been chemically disinfected, or bottled water. Be sure to use the bottled, boiled, or chemically disinfected water for the following purposes:
  • Drinking
  • Preparing food or drinks
  • Making ice
  • Brushing your teeth
  • Washing your face and hands
  • Washing dishes and utensils that you use to eat or prepare food
  • Washing fruits and vegetables (u suppose also boil all ur ugwu dem)
Nor 4get ur EJANLA, if u wan chop am, make sure say u cook am well o! Incase d symptoms continue, try see ur dokita o, den u fit come dey use prayer dey support am!

Very soon, we go jam again!

As i nor be dokita, I collect info 4rm: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/cholera-faq

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