Cholera: Symptoms and Treatment
Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC
Cholera is an infection of the intestinal tract. Once a person contracts the cholera bacterium, this organism colonizes the small intestine, producing a dangerous toxin that can cause the onset of cholera. While most people who contract cholera bacteria do not develop serious cholera symptoms, in about 20 percent of cholera cases victims experience severe diarrhea and vomiting. Without proper medical intervention, the rapid loss of body fluids can lead to increased heart rate, coma and death.
Cholera Symptoms
Cholera is a highly contagious disease with an extremely short incubation period (the time from contracting the bacteria until the onset of symptoms). Thus, some victims notice the first signs of cholera in as little as two hours after ingesting the bacteria. Most cholera patients, however, experience a sudden onset of diarrhea and vomiting within 24 to 48 hours after being exposed to cholera bacteria. During this period, cholera patients are contagious, as the bacterium is passed in the stool. Most cholera patients (including those without any symptoms) remain contagious for two weeks until the bacteria fully exit their system.
Cholera is characterized by a sudden onset of several symptoms, the most common of which are:
- Severe watery diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Muscle cramps
If treatment is not provided, cholera can progress to the next stage whereby patients also experience extreme thirst, fatigue and increased heart rate. As the cholera toxin continues to destroy the gastrointestinal tract, patients can fall into a coma and die. Cholera often progresses very rapidly, and it can kill a healthy person within several hours.
Cholera Treatment
While potentially life threatening, cholera can be treated very effectively through rehydration with oral and/or intravenous fluids. Essentially, all of the fluids and electrolytes the body is losing through diarrhea and vomiting have to be replaced as quickly as possible. Typically, a simple rehydration solution consisting of water, salts and sugar is administered orally. In severe cases, patients might also require intravenous hydration. In addition to replacing body fluids, doctors might also administer antibiotics to shorten the duration of diarrhea and vomiting. For children, zinc supplements might also been administered because this mineral has been shown to speed up recovery in young cholera patients.
Cholera Legal Recourse
While cholera is a disease associated with undeveloped countries with poor sanitation systems, it can occur almost anywhere due to the increasing movement of persons, animals and food items worldwide. For example, in 1992 a large cholera outbreak occurred on an Argentine plane bound for Los Angeles. More than 70 persons became sickened with cholera after consuming cholera-tainted seafood salad served onboard. While undercooked seafood is one of the main sources of cholera in developed countries, cholera bacteria can also be found in dairy products, fruits and vegetables.
If you suspect that your symptoms or the illness of your loved one were caused by cholera food poisoning, contact the experienced lawyers of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz at (888) 255-2956. They will carefully evaluate your case to determine if the food manufacturers, distributors and/or servers involved acted negligently in failing to deliver a reasonably safe product. If the facts indicate that you might be entitled to compensation, the attorneys of AWKO Law can file a cholera lawsuit on your behalf to hold those responsible for your suffering financially liable. In addition to litigating cholera cases, AWKO lawyers have considerable experience handling cases arising from shigella, salmonella, E. coli and botulism food poisoning.
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Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz
803 North Palafox St.
Pensacola, Florida 32501
55 Baybridge Dr.
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561
