CDC-cholera

Cholera is an acute bacterial enteric disease characterized in its severe form with sudden onset, profuse painless watery stools (rice-water stool), nausea and profuse vomiting. Spasmodic abdominal pain might occur. Severe muscle cramps in extremities may be due to electrolyte disturbance. In untreated cases, rapid dehydration, acidosis, circulatory collapse, hypoglycemia in children and renal failure may occur. Death results within a few hours in 50% of severe cases, however, if proper treatment is started early, mortality may reach only 1%.

Cholera is essentially the only diarrheal disease where patients can become severely dehydrated in less than six hours. No one who arrives at a treatment center and is still breathing should die of cholera.
Cholera is essentially the only diarrheal disease where patients can become severely dehydrated in less than six hours. No one who arrives at a treatment center and is still breathing should die of cholera.

Case classification
1. Suspected case: Any case complains of acute watery diarrhea without pain, +/- vomiting, regardless of patient age.
2. Probable case: Any suspected case with severe dehydration, or death due to acute watery diarrhea.
3. Confirmed case: A suspected case with isolation of Vibrio cholera O1 or O139 from stools.
4. Carrier: Asymptomatic person Vibrio cholera isolated from his or her stool