# What is cholera? Its causes and symptoms.How to be safe?

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**Created:** [March 18, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://howtodiscuss.com/t/what-is-cholera-its-causes-and-symptoms-how-to-be-safe/38531 "2021-03-18T18:56:13Z")\
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**Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://howtodiscuss.com/t/what-is-cholera-its-causes-and-symptoms-how-to-be-safe/38531/1 "2021-03-18T18:56:13Z")

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## Cholera

Cholera is infection(invasion of an organism's body tissues by disease causing agents) of small intestine.It causes severe watery diarrhea,which can lead to dehydration and even may cause death if left untreated.It occurs by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae.

### Symptoms of cholera&nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Its symptoms ranges from none,to mild,to severe.The most classic symptom is large amount of watery diarrhea that lasts for few days.Vomiting and muscle cramps may also be caused.Severe diarrhea leads to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.It may cause sunken eyes,cold skin,wrinkling of hands and feet,decreased skin elasticity and skin may turn bluish.

&nbsp;

### Bacterium Vibrio cholerae,causes of cholera&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp; Vibrio cholerae is a Gram-negative,comma-shaped bacterium(Plural:bacteria).It lives in brackish or saltwater where they attach themselves easily to the chitin-containing shells&nbsp; crabs,shrimps and other selfish.Some of V.cholerae cause the disease cholera.Consumption of undercooked or raw marine life species causes cholera.V.cholera is facultative anaerobic(an organism that makes ATP by aerobic respiration in the presence of oxygen,but&nbsp; also capable of carrying fermentation if oxygen is absent).It has a flagellum(A lash-like appendage that protrudes from cell body of certain bacteria and eukaryotes) at one cell pole as well as pili(Singular:pilus;a hair-like structure&nbsp; on the surface).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It can cause diarrhea and vomiting in the host within some hours to 2-3 days after being ingested.It was first known as cause of cholera by Italian anatomists Filippo Pacini and Catalan Joaquim Balcells i Pascal in 1854.

[![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8oIzhexjFo/YA_-SJ5ZYgI/AAAAAAAAAHw/20_ptbpS8lIGPZSLh1oyWXNHg7GJVyP0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/index.jpg)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8oIzhexjFo/YA_-SJ5ZYgI/AAAAAAAAAHw/20_ptbpS8lIGPZSLh1oyWXNHg7GJVyP0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s310/index.jpg)&nbsp;

### &nbsp;classification of Vibrio cholerae is as

Domain:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bacteria

Phylum:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Proteobacteria

Class:&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gammaproteobacteria

Order:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vibrionales

Family:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vibrionaceae

Genus:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vibrio

Species:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; V.cholerae&nbsp;&nbsp;

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