Signs & Symptoms of Cholera 

Symptoms begin 1 to 3 days after infection and range from mild, uncomplicated  diarrhea to severe, potentially fatal disease. Some infected people have no symptoms. The infection is often  mild or without symptoms, but  sometimes can be  severe. The infected person has several  symptoms which can be characterized by: 

• Abdominal cramps 
• Dehydration 
• Diarrhea has a "fishy" odor 
• Dry mouth 
• Dry skin 
• Excessive thirst 
• Leg cramps 
• Low urine output 
• Low Blood Pressure 
• Nausea  
• Rapid heart rate 
• Sunken eyes 
• Tiredness  
• Unusual sleepiness 
• Vomiting 
• Watery diarrhea 

In  the infected persons, rapid  loss of body fluids leads to  dehydration and shock. Without treatment,  death can occur within hours.

Causes of Cholera 

The most common cause of cholera is: 

• It is caused by a germ known as “Vibrio Cholerae” 
• Exposure from poor hygiene 
• Eating raw or undercooked food, shellfish 

Susceptibility  to cholera may be increased by a deficiency or an absence of hydrochloric acid. 

After a disaster,  this is a very real danger, since regular, clean water and food supplies are often unavailable. The  disease can be spread even further by infected people using already dirty water sources  to clean themselves or dispose of waste. 

Notes: Dr. M. Kristine Schlossberg

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EditText of this page (last edited February 17, 2010)