Cholera Was Not Recognized As Term Paper

"However, some baceteria -- including the one that causes cholera -- regularly pass through this gauntlet (stomach acid) to wreak havoc in the intestines" (Seppa, 2002, p. 357). Seppa's study continues by asserting that, "the result is severe diarrhea that can lead to fatal dehydration" (Seppa, p. 358).

Treating cholera can be done with a variety of antibiotics and medical supplies, but the simplest and most effective way to both minimize the effects of cholera as well as to keep the patient alive is by re-hydrating the individual.

Hydration of the individual takes place by drinking large quantities of water, or water mixed with salts and sugars to replace the chemicals being lost through the severe diarrhea. This method of treating cholera is used throughout the world and is the most effective method of doing so. Most experts believe that re-hydration of the patient is much more important than attempting to cure the disease (at least for that individual).

Efforts to eradicate the virus after it has presented is usually predicated on wiping out the pathogen and isolating those afflicted individuals in order to stop the transference of the disease to other healthy individuals, even though casual contact with the affected individual will not (normally) transfer the disease.Cholera is normally not found in developed countries and when it is can usually be traced to a bacteria found in shellfish or water. There are only 1-5 cases per year (average) reported in the United States.

Though it is not a prevalent disease in developed countries there have been a number of studies conducted throughout the last couple of decades in an attempt to discern whether the eradication of cholera is feasible. One recent attempt concluded that the surface of cholera-causing bacteria contains a chain of sugars. This chain of sugars "enables the pathogens to clump together in seawater and yet scatter in fresh water" (Ion, 2003, p. 293). If experts are capable of discovering a way of isolating the pathogen and submerging it in freshwater, the bacteria may be destroyed. Only time will tell.

References

Antibacterial virus might suppress cholera, (2005) Science News, Vol. 167, No. 3, p. 38

Colwell, R.R.; (2006) Cholera outbreaks and ocean climate, Social Research, Vol. 73, No. 3, pp. 753-760

Ion dilution leads cholera bacteria to disperse (2003) Science News, Vol. 164, No. 19, pp. 293- 294

Jortner, a.; (2007) Cholera, Christ, and Jackson: The epidemic of 1832 and.....