Cholera is a disease caused by bacteria, especially Vibrio cholerae. The use of contaminated water can spread the disease. In Kathmandu Valley, Vibrio cholerae bacteria has been found in underground water.

Cholera is more prevalent in the rainy season and summer season. Cholera can even be transmitted when infected people go to another place and defecate in a safe place.

How does  cholera start

Vibrio cholerae is a contagious disease, especially caused by contaminated food. When the food is eaten without washing hands or if personal hygiene is not taken care of, germs enter the body through the hands.

Cholera may be caused by food entering the body mainly through the hands and eating dirty or flea-infested food.

Symptoms of cholera

Cholera may be due to gastroenteritis. This causes vomiting, loose motions, profuse watery diarrhea sometimes described as ‘rice-water stools’. Other symptoms of cholera include leg cramps, restlessness, or irritability. But, the stomach does not hurt.

Vomiting and diarrhea occur several times a day. If it is not controlled in time, dehydration occurs. Dehydration also affects other organs.

How it transmits to others

If the feces and urine of an infected person cannot be managed, it is transmitted to another person. The feces and urine of an infected person should not be thrown away indiscriminately.

Jar water should be boiled

We should drink safe water only. Even the jar water or bottled water should not be drunk indiscriminately as unsafe water might result in cholera or other water-borne diseases.

Drinking boiled water is safe. Boiling kills bacteria. We should pay special attention to drinking water as well as personal hygiene.

Washing hands before eating anything helps in minimizing cholera risks. One should wash hands with soap before eating or taking hands to mouth.

Treatment of cholera

The symptoms of cholera appear common to some and complex to others. One should take notice in the number of frequency one has to go to toilet. How many times one vomited or went to toilet has to be kept in notice. One should consult the physician or health workers as per availability.

One should find out the cause of cholera. Treatment starts only after finding out if it is due to contaminated water. Treatment starts based on the condition of the patients. Depending on the condition of the patient, and identifying whether there is severe dehydration, inability to eat and vomiting, people are treated by giving liquid food.

People who are able to drink can be oral rehydration salts. If left untreated, prolonged dehydration can lead to kidney damage, kidney failure, and other serious illnesses.

Cholera is treated in all hospitals, and some government hospitals offer free treatment.

Status of cholera vaccine in Nepal

Cholera vaccine works to some extent. It is not a permanent solution. The best measure to prevent cholera is treating or boiling water.

A year ago, cholera spread rapidly in some areas of Kapilvastu. Cholera is caused by the use of groundwater mixed with poor defecation.

The only permanent cure is treatment of water. Water has to be either boiled, filtered or treated before drinking. Washing hands prior to eating is crucial.

The cholera vaccine works only for a short time. This vaccine is used to prevent short-term management of cholera. The only way to prevent cholera permanently is to purify the water.

When to get vaccinated

The cholera vaccine is not given for treatment. If there is an outbreak of cholera in an area, people with the disease are vaccinated to prevent the spread of the virus to other people so that it does not spread to other areas. Vaccination is for the short-term management of cholera.

So as not to cause problems

The cholera vaccine is only for a short time. It was given to government as a grant. The government is unlikely to procure it again.

We must first focus on water hygiene as well as personal hygiene. Defecation should be done in a safe place. The food available in the market should not be eaten indiscriminately, it should be eaten only considering whether the food is safe or not. Cholera can be prevented by eating home-made food and purifying water as much as possible.

People with diarrhea should not be given a variety of foods such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, juice. These foods have the adverse effects. It is very good to make and take rehydration solution. Also, diarrhea can be mitigated by taking rice bran, oatmeal, lentil soup/juice, fresh fruit juice etc.