cholera

**1) The common and scientific name of the disease.**
The name of my disease is called cholera, it is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, a bacterial toxin that affects the absorption of water in the small intestine. Cholera is one of the major cause of deaths in the world.

**2) What causes it? How is it transmitted?**
Cholera is caused by a bacterium, vibrio cholerae.The bacterial toxin has the ability to affect the cells of gastrointestinal tract, the affected person may get diarrhoea or even worse, losing a huge amount of fluid. If the person is not treated properly, the huge lose of fluid will get really serious and could lead to death. The disease can be transmitted through fish by contaminated water, Bacteria are excreted in faeces, if it comes into contact with drinking water, the person will get infected. Cholera is rarely transmitted from person to person, although it is possible.

**3) What are the symptoms? How long do they last? Is it deadly?**
Symptoms: Cholera often lasts 2 to 3 days, sometimes last more than 5 days in some special cases. It will be deadly if you don't treat it right away.
 * Cholera takes place over a period of time and usually occurs when you feel stomach pain but not feeling sick.
 * If you start having diarrhea.
 * Diarrhea that look pale, flaky and looks like rice water.
 * Abdominal pain
 * A person with cholera may produce at least 8 liters of fluid per day

**4) Can it be cured? If so, how?**
Cholera can be cured with Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT). It is easy, efficient and safe. It gives you more water and electrolytes, something that you will be lacking when you have cholera. If some people think it is too expensive and couldn't afford it, they may use certain formula containing water, sugar, table salt, baking soda, and fruit offer less expensive methods of electrolyte repletion. It has been reported that people with cholera who went immediately to the hospital has a surviving rate of 99% due to the speed and method of treatments nowadays. If you don't treat it right away, the mortality rate is increased to 50%-60%.

5) A few history of cholera
There has been several cholera outbreaks in the last century, here is a brief one on where it occured, when and how many were unlucky.
 * 1816-1826 -First cholera pandemic - The pandemic began in Bengal and spread across to India during the 1820s and killed 10000 people. It then spread to China and killed another 23 million people.
 * 1829-1851 -Second cholera pandemic- started in Russia and drifted across to Hungary (killed more than 100000 people)
 * 1899-1923 - Sixth cholera pandemic - It occurred in Europe but had little effects on the people because of the advanced medical. But it did affect major cities in Russia and caused around 300000 deaths.