Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffCholera requires immediate treatment because the disease can cause death within hours.
- Rehydration. The goal is to replace lost fluids and electrolytes using a simple rehydration solution, Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS). The ORS solution is available as a powder that can be reconstituted in boiled or bottled water. Without rehydration, approximately half the people with cholera die. With treatment, the number of fatalities drops to less than 1 percent.
- Intravenous fluids. During a cholera epidemic, most people can be helped by oral rehydration alone, but severely dehydrated people may also need intravenous fluids.
- Antibiotics. While antibiotics are not a necessary part of cholera treatment, some of these drugs may reduce both the amount and duration of cholera-related diarrhea. A single dose of doxycycline (Adoxa, Monodox) or azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax) may be effective.
- Zinc supplements. Research has shown that zinc may decrease and shorten the duration of diarrhea in children with cholera.
Comments
Post a Comment