Cholera is one of the most contagious, water born diseases caused by the bacterium vibrio cholerae. It enters the small intestine of a human through contaminated food and water. if the disease is not treated properly, it can turn-out to be fatal. The bacterium absorbs water from the small intestine resulting in great loss of fluids from the body in a short period of time.

Improved sanitation and hygienic conditoins are required to control the spread of such contagious diseases.  In severe cases this disease causes diarrhea and violent purging. Drinking sterilized water and eating fresh and healthy foods can keep us away from the cholera infection and other dreadful diseases.

How to identify cholera?

One of the most important symptoms of cholera is diarrhea. In severe cases violent purging can be noticed in the infected person. Loose and watery stools are another most important symptoms of cholera. In early stages of infection nausea and vomiting can be seen in the patient. due to loss of water, patient feels very thirsty and restless.  Body temperature may rise along with decrease in pulse rate. due to sluggish circulation, skin may turn dry and wrinkled. In some case, skin may turn slightly purplish in color.

Causes of cholera

Main cause for the cholera infection is a bacterium namely vibrio cholerae. another important cause for cholera is contaminated food and water which acts as the carriers of the bacterium into the body.

Home remedies

Lemon juice is one of the simplest home remedies for cholera as it can arrest the bacteria responsible for the spread of disease. Lemon juice can be consumed with sugar or salt along with medications. Orange juice can be also taken instead of lemon juice as these citrus fruit juices can kill bacilli causing cholera infection.

Guava root being rich in tannins can effectively reduce symptoms of cholera like vomiting and diarrhea. thirty grams of guava root bark can be boiled in water for half an hour and this decoction can be taken twice in a day. Onion is an important home remedy for cholera as it can help to reduce some of  its symptoms. thirty grams of onion with seven black peppers can be pounded and can be taken twice or thrice a day for better results.

Fresh juice of bitter guard can be given to the patient twice a day during the early stages of infection. This can be either taken alone or with two teaspoons of white onion juice twice a day for curing the diseases before they become serious. Drumstick leaves are a very valuable in the treatment of cholera. a concoction prepared by mixing one teaspoon of fresh drumstick leaf juice with half a tablespoon of honey in, 2 cups of tender coconut water can be taken twice a day for curing cholera at a faster rate.

Drinking a decoction made from basil leaves several times a day is an effective home remedy for the disease. Cucumber leaves as well as cucumber is used in curing cholera as it can decrease thirst feelings in the patient. one glass of fresh cucumber leaf juice with an equal amount of tender coconut water can be given in doses of 30-60 ml a day for better results.

Nutmeg is an important remedy for dehydration caused during the cholera infection. half a nutmeg mixed in half liter of water and half liter of coconut tender water can be given in a dose of 15 ml a day for treating cholera. Cloves are very valuable in the treatment of cholera. about three grams of cloves can be boiled in three liters of water for half an hour. The prepared mixture can be given to the patient several times a day for rapid recovery from the disease.

Powdered root of chaff is another important home remedy for cholera. Six grams of this powder can be boiled in one liter of water and the prepared solution can be taken once in a day for curing cholera. a solution of 4 heaped teaspoon of sugar or honey and half teaspoon of salt in water can be taken several times a day for reducing fluid loss from the body due to infection.

Taking a glass of buttermilk with one teaspoon of cumin seeds added in it is helpful in curing cholera infection. This can be given to the patient once in a day for better results. a bowl of rice water can be given to the patient as a home remedy for cholera infection as drinking rice water is best for diarrhea which is one of the main symptoms of the disease.

Dos and do not’s

Solid food items should be avoided and instead liquid food can be given to the patients. Uncooked vegetables should be also avoided unless making sure that they are well cleaned and fresh. Lemon juice and orange juice can be given daily for rapid cure. Onion and mint can be included in the diet in liquid form.

Ice cubes in drinks should be avoided unless made sure than ice cubes are prepared from sterilized water. Water should be sterilized or boiled before drinking. Ice creams from an unhygienic condition should be strictly avoided. Shellfishes and raw fishes should not be taken as they can be the main source for the bacteria causing cholera.

Foods should be prepared at a hygienic place and should be handled properly. Food items should not be kept open or allowed to stand at the room temperature for several hours as this can increase the chance of microbial growth.

Conclusion

Food items sold at the street in an unhygienic condition should be avoided. Patients should be provided with light food items in order to reduce pressure on the infected intestine on digestion. Patients should be given medical care immediately as this disease is a fatal one, that causes rapid fluid loss from the body. Keeping body hydrated is the best method to cure cholera. The above mentioned tips and remedies can be followed for best results along with proper medication and care of the patient.

Thirteen years ago, Samantha Spencer ate a handful of fresh strawberries and wound up with hepatitis a, a virus that infects the liver and is commonly associated with eating contaminated food while on vacation.

But Spencer was not away at a tropical, all-inclusive resort — she was 15 years old and at a summer camp near Toronto.

"it was a shock," the 28-year-old woman says now, looking back on what she calls a "traumatic" experience. "I never suspected that I could get it in Toronto."

Spencer is like the majority of Canadians who, according to a new poll by the Canadian Liver Foundation released Wednesday, believe common myths about food-related illnesses and may have a false sense of security when it comes to food safety.

The survey conducted by the charity found that most Canadians erroneously believe that where they eat and where they shop will help protect them from such food-related illnesses as hepatitis a.

They also falsely believe that hepatitis a and hepatitis B are mostly diseases contracted outside Canadian borders, notes the report.

"most tend to think of these as travel-related diseases when, in fact, the majority of patients who pick up hepatitis a pick up their disease in Canada. this is true of hepatitis B as well," Dr. Morris Sherman, chairman of the Canadian Liver Foundation, said in an interview.

Sixty-five per cent of Canadians surveyed said they knew they could be exposed to hepatitis a when eating on holiday, but only 35 per cent recognized there are risks in Canada. Almost 60 per cent said they were not worried about contracting a food-related disease because they buy their fresh produce from a reputable store and 63 per cent said they felt safe because they eat at reputable restaurants. just over half of those polled — 53 per cent — said they try to purchase local fruits and vegetables and, therefore, they don’t need to be concerned.

"Canadians really are not fully aware of the risks of acquiring either hepatitis a or B," Sherman said.

Leger Marketing questioned 1,521 Canadians. The survey has a confidence level of 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Hepatitis a is usually acquired by ingesting contaminated water or food that was grown in contaminated soil or washed with contaminated water from areas with poor sanitation standards. It’s also spread by food service workers who fail to wash their hands properly after going to the bathroom.

In some cases, such as Spencer’s, symptoms don’t immediately show up, but when they do, they can last a few weeks to several months.

Spencer noticed she was feeling ill about a month after eating the contaminated fruit, and thought she had the flu. She was fatigued, lost her appetite, dropped nearly seven kilograms in two weeks, and then, her skin turned yellow — a classic symptom of a liver disorder. a blood test confirmed Spencer had hepatitis a, along with three other campers who also ate the strawberries.

"You can’t sleep, you’re itchy, you’re so uncomfortable, weak, tired, and you don’t want to go out in public because you’re bright yellow," said Spencer, who was sick for about six weeks.

While she feels her digestive system never fully recovered from her bout with the virus, Spencer has a clean bill of health.

In the wake of her illness, the young woman said she is extra cautious about what she eats.

"For a while, I felt like I had to become hyper-vigilant about how my food was prepared and what I was eating," she said.

Proper hygiene and food handling can help reduce the risk of infection, but Sherman, a liver specialist at Toronto General Hospital, advises Canadians to get vaccinated against both hepatitis a and B.

Hepatitis B is spread through blood and bodily fluids and risk factors include having unprotected sex and getting a tattoo or piercing, a pedicure, manicure or a dental or medical procedure with inadequately sterilized instruments. it has similar symptoms to hepatitis a but can keep recurring. An estimated 250,000 Canadians are living with chronic hepatitis B, which can cause scarring of the liver, liver cancer and organ failure.

The Liver Foundation survey also revealed that Canadians are not taking the proper precautions to protect themselves from liver diseases. Only 49 per cent said they always wash their produce and only 43 per cent said they do not re-wash their frozen or bagged fruits and vegetables. Only one-third believe they are vaccinated against hepatitis a and 37 per cent think they are vaccinated against hepatitis B.

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Hundreds of people who received communion on Christmas Day at our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Massapequa Park, new York, might have been exposed to hepatitis A, according to health officials, reported MSNBC.

The Nassau County Health Department is offering vaccinations this week to parishioners who received communion at our Lady of Lourdes on December 25th, said MSNBC. According to a church spokesman speaking to Newsday, the investigation is ongoing and the church is unable to identify the origin of the virus; some 7,500 parishioners attend mass at our Lady of Lourdes.

Mary Ellen Laurain, a spokeswoman for the Nassau County Department of Health, told NBC new York that, “a person involved in the communion process has tested positive for hepatitis a. The risk is low but we want to make sure that anybody who received communion on that day and those times could have been exposed.”

The Mayo Clinic writes that hepatitis a is typically contracted from contaminated food or water or from close contact with an infected individual. Mild hepatitis a cases resolve without treatment and most of those infected recover fully with no permanent liver damage. Washing hands often is among one of the best ways in which to protect oneself from the virus; vaccines are available.

Symptoms typically appear after one month following contamination and include fatigue; nausea and vomiting; abdominal pain or discomfort, especially near the liver; appetite loss; low-grade fever; dark urine; muscle pain; itching; and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), said the Mayo Clinic. these symptoms can last anywhere from two to six months, although some never develop symptoms.

Once exposed to hepatitis a, prevention can be achieved via a hepatitis a vaccine or immunoglobulin therapy within the first two weeks, said the Mayo Clinic.

The Mayo Clinic notes that hepatitis a is caused by infection with the hepatitis a virus. The virus typically spreads when a person ingests tiny amounts of contaminated fecal matter. The hepatitis a virus infects the liver cells and causes inflammation, which can impair liver function. Hepatitis a can be transmitted when an infected person handles food without first carefully washing his or her hands after using the toilet.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Infection (CDC), wrote ABC News, ingesting food handled by an infected person is one of the more typical ways in which to contract hepatitis a.

A small number of people with hepatitis a will continue to experience signs and symptoms of infection for several weeks longer than usual, explains the Mayo Clinic. these people can exhibit symptoms, which disappear and then return over several weeks. In rare cases, hepatitis a can cause acute liver failure, a sudden loss of liver function, which requires hospitalization and, in some cases, a liver transplant, said the Mayo Clinic. The disease is most contagious about 10 days before the symptoms appear, said ABC News.

ABC News wrote that the Nassau County Department of Health is concerned that hundreds could be potentially infected. Those who attended the 10:30 a.m. and noon masses on Christmas Day are the likeliest to be at risk, the Department added.

The Nassau County Department of Health is asking that those who attended the 10:30 and noon masses at our Lady of Lourdes in Massapequa Park, new York call 1.516.227.9496, said ABC News.