Cholera
By Cora Saunders
Cholera
Cholera is an infectious disease that is in contaminated water. Cholera is spread through contaminated water. Cholera can be easily treated, but can be fatal within hours. 80% of people show moderate symptoms and 20% of people show severe symptoms.
Symptoms
People who get Cholera will probably show symptoms of severe diarrhea, vomiting and extreme thirst. In children you might see seizures and coma.
Locations
Cholera is mainly in poor countries that don't get clean water. Cholera is normally in Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Mexico, and Haiti.
Vaccines and Prevention
There are vaccines you can get but they are only good for a period of time. They are made from dead Vibro Cholera Bacteria. To prevent Cholera only drink clean water that has been boiled or that has been cleaned. Try to avoid ice that might not be clean. Also only eat fruits and vegetables that have been peeled.
Statistics
When traveling to an area with Cholera your chance of getting it is one in a million. 3.5 cases are estimated each year. Over 100,00 deaths occur each year, world round. 748 million can't or don't access clean drinking water. In 2013 129,064 cases were reported 47% were in America. The last major outbreak in America was in 1911.
Cause
The cause of Cholera is from contaminated water that people drink from, shower in, and go to the bathroom in. Grains, raw fruits, and sea food, that are not peeled or fully cooked can cause Cholera.
Organ affected
The only organ affected by Cholera is the small intestine.
When to contact a doctor
You should contact a doctor when you start to feel a dry mouth, dry skin, and extremely thirsty. Also when you have a rapid pulse and unusual sleepiness.
Similar Diseases
Here are some similar diseases like Cholera. Amoebiasis and that causes diarrhea. Naegleria is found in lakes and rivers. Shigellosis is also an infectious disease it is found in polluted water with human feces in it.
Treatment
Re-hydration is the first thing to try when someone has Cholera. You can get liquids through IVs if you need to. Antibiotics can also help diarrhea. For Children you could try Zinc supplements.
Outbreak in Haiti
The worst going Cholera epidemic is happening in Haiti. It started after the 2010 earthquake. In December 2012 their hospitals had over 2,300 patients with Cholera each week and over 40 deaths each week. 182 people died between April and August 2013. 698,893 cases have been reported. Cholera is worse in Haiti because 78% of the population live in poverty and 53% can't access water.
Water in Haiti
Because water in Haiti is so hard to get and because its so dirty, when people do get clean water they sometimes sell it in baggies on the side of the street. Haiti has never had a good water system like other countries. In the country side water is even harder to get. Villagers do what they can to get water.
Water Foundations in Haiti
Luckily there are water foundations like Clean Water for Haiti. They started in 2001. Some of their goals are to get water filters in a lot of the Haiti communities, to create employment. Some ways you can help is to volunteer, fund raise, connect, and go on vision trips. Water aid is also a foundation that helps. They have reached 16,128 kids. They have 30 years of experience. They work in 26 of the poorest countries.
Bibliography
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A Community River. Digital image. Http://pulitzercenter.org/. Web. 15 Dec. 2014.
Girls in Dirty Water. Digital image. Staticflickr.com. Web. 15 Dec. 2014.
No Quick Fix in Haiti. Digital image. Nature.com. Web. 15 Dec. 2014.
Small Intestine. Digital image. Http://www.webmd.com/. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.
Vaccines. Digital image. Media.cirrusmedia.com. Web. 15 Dec. 2014.
Water for Haiti. Digital image. Http://www.liveintentionally.org/. Web. 15 Dec. 2014.
Worst Cholera Outbreak. Digital image. Http://www.vitorlazas.hu/. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.