Cholera- El tor

CHOLERA  

Cholera also known as EL Tor, is an acute bacterial infection of the small intestine characterized by diarrhea with profuse watery stool (rice watery stool), vomiting and fever that leads to rapid dehydration.

It may be contracted from eating or drinking food contaminated by faeces and vomitus from a patient.

 

Etiologic Agent –

1.     Vibrio coma

a.     Inaba

b.    Coma

c.     Hirojima

2.     Vibrio Cholerae- the most common cause of Cholera.

3.     Spirillum Cholerae

Incubation Period- It occurs few hours to more or less five days, typically on the 1^st to 3^rd day of the disease.

Mode of Transmissions

ö      Fecal – oral route via contamination of water, milk and other foods.

ö      Ingestion of food or water contaminated with stools or vomitus of patients.

ö      Flies, soiled hands and utensils also serve to transmit infection.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Profuse diarrhea – watery, whitish, grayish or greenish slightly muccid stools without any fecal matter, called rice watery stools “fishy odor”
• Increased urine specific gravity more than 1.020.
• Weak and thready pulse may be observed.
• Poor skin turgor and tenting of skin fold.
• Stools are passed repeatedly, later becoming all
• Signs of severe dehydration – sunken fontanel & eyeballs

Ø  prominences of sutures

Ø  loss of turgor & elasticity of the skin

Ø  (+) skin folds sigh with wrinkling of the finger tips

Ø  cold clammy sweat and decreased blood pressure

Ø  vomiting, muscle cramps and inc exhaustion

Ø  Symptoms of severe dehydration – washer woman’s hand.

Nursing care:

ü  Combat infection with proper antibiotic treatment regimen.

ü  Replace fluids & electrolytes loss with proper intravenous fluid solution.

ü  The patient may be placed in isolation.

ü  The buttocks should be dry and clean.

ü  Observed proper disposal of contaminated excreta.

ü  Proper preparation of food. Always observed food sanitation.

ü  Boil water for drinking.

ü  After the patient has vomited, mouth should be cleansed with an antiseptic mouthwash.

ü  Fluids are given if necessary.

Diagnostic Exam:

-          Occult blood test/Guaiac Test (stool exam)

Treatment:

1. Pharmacologic treatment

Ø  According to IMCI the first line of drug for Cholera is Tetracycline given 250mg QID second is Cotrimoxazole.

2.     Fluid replacement

Ø  IVF specifically Lactated Ringer’s Solution

Ø  ORESOL

DISCLAIMER: Any comment uttered in this website are those of the readers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nursingpage.blogspot.com or any of its associate sites. Nursingpage.blogspot.com does not intentionally publish false information and may perhaps not be held accountable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. All articles in this site are intended for learning purposes only. We don't claim full ownership of the graphics, articles, videos, pictures and some nursing/medical articles posted on this site. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Posted in: Communicable Diseases