Friday, August 17, 2012

Prevention and Treatment of Cholera


Cholera is an old disease which travelers can encounter.  Prevention of cholera involves clean drinking water.  Obviously we should always drink bottled water (unopened bottles or canned drinks).  Be wary of ice and salad foods unless you know they were prepared with clean water.  For more prevention tactics for cholera, see the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/cholera/prevention.html  Travelers can check out their destination for health reports and recommended immunizations at http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/index.html
Treatment for cholera includes fluid and electrolyte (salt) replacement. People suffering severe cases of cholera can be treated with antibiotics (doxycycline being first choice according to the CDC).  Efforts to create a vaccine for cholera have been unsuccessful because of multiple versions of the bacteria.   


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