AUB Health: How To Prevent Cholera In Case It Breaks Out Around You

If you have been reading the news lately, you must have learnt that there have been outbreaks of cholera in a state in the South-West while  many have been infected in the northern parts of the country. In fact, since 1972, the country has, at one point or the other, battled seasonal outbreaks of this water-borne disease.

Is cholera a disease you should worry about? Yes, because it is an intestinal infection and could be scary, especially in children whose antibodies are not yet strong enough to fight off the infection like adults.

Worse still, among adults and kids alike, cholera can lead to death in severe cases in less than 72 hours.

Most people get cholera from drinking impure water or eating food contaminated with a type of bacteria called Vibrio cholera.

According to experts on medicine.com, an infected person will be excreting watery diarrhoea and vomiting frequently, making people who have it get dehydrated quickly. When dehydration is severe, it can cause serious health problems if it’s not treated. The person may develop seizures and kidney failure. People who don’t get the proper medical treatment may even die.

So, if you or someone in the family is experiencing any of the symptoms aforementioned, physicians advise you to take urgent steps in order to avert any loss of life.

A public health physician, Dr. Olarenwaju Ajayi, says parents whose kids have been stooling or vomiting for more than 12 hours should quickly apply zinc oral rehydration solution, which could save life if they cannot reach the doctor immediately.

In the case of young children, Ajayi says,  mothers should continue to breastfeed them till they can get to a health facility.

“The scientific explanation is that the baby is losing water and antibodies. It is the breast milk that can replenish that till you get them to the hospital where they can get specialised treatment. Most babies die of cholera because they are dehydrated while they are stooling and the care givers did not replace the water they lost.”

For the adults, Ajayi adds, there is no effective remedy except to pay an immediate visit to the nearest health centre for treatment, which may include the use of antibiotics and administration of drips, depending on the severity of the infection.

He says, “You may not have to stay in the hospital at all, as people who have mild-to-moderate cases usually get better within a week. Even people with severe cases of cholera recover fully in a week or so, if they get medical care.”

Scientists at the Centre For Diseases Prevention and Control, United States of America, state that since people get cholera from eating or drinking food or water that’s been contaminated with faeces, through poor sanitary practices, those who may be visiting communities where cholera outbreaks have been reported, or those living in households were access to good drinking water is a luxury, may have to take these simple precautions to avoid being infected with cholera.

Drink/use safe water

• While in the area, drink bottled water with unbroken seals. Also, canned/bottled carbonated beverages are safe to drink and use.

• Use safe water like sachet water to brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, and to make ice.

• Clean food preparation areas and kitchenware with soap and safe water and let them dry completely before reuse to avoid contamination.

Check your water source

• To be sure water is safe to drink and use, boil it or treat it with chlorine product or household bleach.

• Treat your water source with chlorine by using one of the locally available treatment products and follow the instructions.

• If a chlorine treatment product is not available or you cannot afford it, you can treat your water with household bleach by adding eight drops of household bleach to every gallon of water (or two drops of household bleach to every litre of water) and wait 30 minutes before drinking.

• Always store treated water in a clean, covered container.

Wash your hands often with soap and safe water before you eat or prepare food, before feeding your children and after using the toilet. Also, use clean water to clean up in the toilet.

Use latrines or bury your faeces (poop); do not defecate in any body of water and wash hands with soap and safe water after defecating

• Clean latrines and surfaces contaminated with faeces using a solution of one part household bleach to nine parts water.

• If you don’t have a latrine, defecate at least 30 meters away from any body of water and then bury your faeces.

• Dispose of plastic bags containing faeces in latrines, at collection points if available, or bury them in the ground. Do not put plastic bags in chemical toilets.

• Dig new latrines or temporary pit toilets at least a half-meter deep and at least 30 meters away from any body of water.

Cook food well (especially seafood), keep it covered, eat it hot, and peel fruits and vegetables yourself

• Avoid eating raw foods other than fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself.

• Clean up safely — in the kitchen and in places where the family bathes and washes clothes.

• Very importantly, wash yourself, your children, diapers and clothes 30 meters away from drinking water sources.

PUNCH