Cholera

What can be done to prevent the infection?

Thorough cooking of food can often prevent cholera. Boiling water or treating it with chlorine or iodine is another good way to prevent this infection. Cholera is common in underdeveloped countries that lack clean water supplies. A person who travels to this type of country should use care in the food and water consumed.

Good hygiene, especially when preparing food, can help prevent the spread of infection through foods.

What are the long-term effects of the infection?

All the serious effects of cholera are due to the diarrhea related to it. Diarrhea causes the body to shed large amounts of water and salt. A person can develop life-threatening salt imbalances. Severe dehydration can occur. And that can result in low blood pressure and kidney damage.

In severe cases, shock and even death are possible. Death from cholera is very rare in the U.S. It is more common in countries where access to medical care and clean water is limited.

What are the risks to others?

Cholera can be spread from one person to another. This is more likely to occur if the infected person does not have good personal hygiene. A person with diarrhea from an infection should be extra careful about washing his or her hands.