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Cholera

Last reviewed: 8 Nov 2023
Last updated: 21 Dec 2022

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • copious watery diarrhea
  • evidence of volume depletion
More key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

  • age <5 years
  • ingestion of shellfish
  • family history of recent, severe, cholera-like illness
  • vomiting
  • fever
  • abdominal pain
  • lethargy or coma
Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

  • ingestion of contaminated water
  • ingestion of contaminated food
  • inadequate sanitation
  • recent heavy rains and flooding
  • decreased gastric acid secretion
  • blood group O
  • malnutrition
  • HIV infection
  • lack of breast-feeding
More risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • CBC
  • serum electrolytes
  • serum BUN and creatinine
  • serum lactate
  • ABG
  • ECG
  • darkfield/phase-contrast microscopy of stool
  • rapid dipstick testing of stool
More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

  • Gram stain of stool
  • stool culture of liquid stool, fecal suspension, or rectal swab
  • serogroup confirmation using antisera
  • antibiogram (sensitivities)
  • CXR and abdominal x-ray
More investigations to consider

Emerging tests

  • enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay of stool
  • molecular testing of stool
  • loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay of stool

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

mild-moderate volume depletion: without vomiting

vomiting or severe volume depletion

Contributors

Authors

Marcus Eder, MD (Inf Diseases & Microbiology), MRCP, MRCPath, MSc, DTM&H

Scientific Collaborator

Swissnoso (National Center for Infection Control)

Bern

Switzerland

Disclosures

ME declares that he has no competing interests.

Rekha Lopez, BSc, MBBS, MRCP, MSc, FRCPath

Consultant Microbiologist

Lister Hospital

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

London

UK

Disclosures

RL declares that she has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Marcus Eder and Dr Rekha Lopez would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Justin Green, a previous contributor to this topic.

Disclosures

JG is employed by, and holds stock in, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). GSK has had no involvement in the preparation of this document, and the views expressed are those of the author.

Peer reviewers

David Sack, MD

Professor

Department of International Health

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Baltimore

MD

Disclosures

DS is an author of some studies referenced in this topic.

Nur H. Alam, MD

Scientist

Clinical Sciences Division

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research

Dhaka

Bangladesh

Disclosures

NHA is co-author of a study referenced in this topic.

Jaya Shankar Kaushik, MD

Registrar

Department of Pediatrics

University College of Medical Sciences

New Delhi

India

Disclosures

JSK is the author of a reference cited in this topic.

  • Cholera images
  • Differentials

    • Other infectious diarrhea
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    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Recommendations for the use of antibiotics for the treatment of cholera
    • First steps for managing an outbreak of acute diarrhoea
    More Guidelines
  • Patient leaflets

    Diarrhea in adults

    Diarrhea in children

    More Patient leaflets
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