water – open cageWhat are the symptoms of Cholera? is there Treatment for Cholera?

Cholera is a disease/ infection of the small intestine. It is possible to die from the effects of Cholera and no one is immune.

The main symptoms of Cholera are extensive vomiting and diarrhoea which is usually painless and will produce a clear liquid. Diarrhoea is often described as having a ‘fishy’ odour.

Symptoms of Cholera will begin quickly after infection takes place, usually within one to five days.

How is Cholera Passed on?

Cholera is similar to food poisoning in both effects and transmission. Eating contaminated food or drink will pass the infection on. The bacteria which cause Cholera live in the environment, but it is when these bacteria multiple and is then ingested that Cholera is contracted.

Complications of Cholera

The biggest complication of Cholera is dehydration. An adult with the infection can lose between many litres of fluid per day; any fluid that is replaced will usually be lost immediately.

One complication of severe dehydration is electrolyte imbalance. Losing too many potassium electrolytes for example will cause muscle weakness and wastage.

What is the Treatment for Cholera?

Treatment for Cholera will start with treating the dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhoea. Replacing lost fluid is the first step to recovery; this can either be through drinking or through an intravenous drip. Electrolytes can also be restored through a drip or through powder sachets to mix with water.

Antibiotic treatment can also be used to fight the infection which causes Cholera, again this is usually given intravenously.

Can everyone get Cholera?

Cholera can affect anyone at any time from any race, it does not discriminate. There are certain circumstances where Cholera is more likely to be caught: Children between the ages of 2 and 4, and people who have O type blood are more susceptible to contracting Cholera than others.

In developing countries the risk for contracting Cholera is higher. because drinking water is often untreated or not treated to the level which is safe, bacteria can grow and multiply.

Vaccine

There are many countries which have oral vaccines for Cholera available. this will greatly reduce any chance you may have of contracting the infection.

Prevention of Cholera

All drinking water should be sterilized/ purified to reduce any bacteria which may be around. When abroad stocking up on bottled water is the best way to ensure you have a fresh clean supply available.

Sources:

• · NHS
• · BBC Health

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.

A burn is an injury to the tissues of the body caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, radiation or friction. most burns affect not only the skin but the burns extend to deeper, areas that may involve injury to the blood vessels, muscles and even the bones.

Burns are classified based on extent of injury and depth, these classifications also allow for proper triage and treatment of burn injuries. Burns involving large surface areas may be fatal and is usually complicated by shock, respiratory distress, electrolyte imbalance, renal failure and multi-organ damage.

The classification of burns has evolved from the traditional classification based on degree of injury to the modified classification of burn thickness which is currently used as guide for surgical intervention. the traditional classification classified burns as first-, second-, third- or fourth-degree.

The modern classification currently uses the following nomenclature:

Superficial thickness (first-degree burn)Partial thickness – superficial (second-degree burn)Partial thickness – deep (third-degree burn)Full-thickness (fourth-degree burn)

This current classification is also used as a basis and guide for surgical intervention since partial-thickness and full-thickness burns may require skin grafting.

Superficial thickness burns are limited to redness and pain on the affected area. only the epidermis or the outermost layer of the skin is affected in this type of burn. Sunburn is classified as a first-degree burn or a superficial thickness burn.

Blistering of the skin is characteristic of a partial-thickness – superficial burn, associated with redness of the affected area due to the involvement of the dermis and the deep dermis.

Partial-thickness – deep burns include injuries extending to the subcutaneous tissue while full-thickness burns involve deeper tissues such as muscles and bones. This type of burn usually requires skin grafting.

It is important in the management of burn and fluid replacement to calculate the percentage affected by partial and full-thickness burns in terms of total body surface area (TBSA). a quick and rough estimate of the TBSA may be done using the “rule of nines” among adults and children above 14 years old.

Treatment of burns includes pain management, fluid resuscitation and wound care. Children with burns of at least 10% or 15% in adults warrants admission to a burn unit for proper monitoring and fluid replacement to avoid life threatening complications such as shock, renal failure and wound infection.

Treating 2nd & 3rd Degree Burns

How do you know you have it in its early stages before it gets worse?must you die from it?

depends what is causing the hepatitis. It is a symptom – maybe of a blood/liver disorder, maybe of something more sinister. But it is a serious condition. Yellowing of the eyes and skin is evident to some degree. Pain maybe, from the cancer or growth that is the primary problem. Loss of appetite and nausea from gall bladder/liver/pancreas disfunction and itching from bile salts on the skin can be very nasty, if it is a gall bladder problem.
Blood tests daily will probably be taken, to assess the Urea and Creatinine levels, as well as normal Electrolyte salts and correct imbalaces with iv therapy.

jaundice looking, loosing weight for no reason and feeling nauseated