Overview
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caught from contaminated water or food. It is rare in countries with reliable clean water and sanitation, and is mainly a concern for travellers to areas with active outbreaks. It can cause such heavy, watery diarrhoea that a person becomes dangerously dehydrated within hours, so rapid rehydration saves lives.
Symptoms
- Sudden, profuse watery diarrhoea (often like rice water)
- Vomiting
- Intense thirst
- Muscle cramps
- Sunken eyes and dry mouth
- Weakness or collapse
- Very little or no urine
Causes & risk factors
- Drinking water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae
- Eating contaminated or poorly cooked food
- Travel to areas with poor sanitation or an active outbreak
- Disaster or flooding disrupting safe water supplies
Treatment & self-care
Start oral rehydration solution (ORS) immediately and keep replacing every stool lost — rehydration is the core of treatment. Severe cases need a clinic or hospital for intravenous fluids, and doctors may add antibiotics. Use safe water and good hand hygiene to protect the rest of the household.
See a doctor urgently if
- Diarrhoea so frequent the person cannot keep up with drinking
- Sunken eyes, dry tongue or skin that stays pinched
- Drowsiness, confusion or fainting
- No urine for many hours
- Watery diarrhoea in a young child, elderly or pregnant person
This condition can be an emergency. If any of the signs above are severe or getting worse, go to the nearest emergency room now or call your local emergency number — do not wait for an online consultation.