Cholera

 Written by: Muhammad Arif Rahimi

Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness and people can get sick when they swallow food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe and life-threatening.

According to the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan, in the first 2 months of this year, about 52 thousand cases of diarrhea have been registered in the country.
AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people and a physician about this issue.

Abdul Habib, a resident of Paktia province says, “I am suffering from diarrhea. I go to the toilet 80 times a day. I am suffering from stomach pain. My health was so bad that my family took me to the hospital by ambulance. The doctor diagnosed that my disease is cholera.”

Shamsulhaq, a resident of Jalalabad city, Nangarhar province says, “My family members and I were infected with cholera. We all suffered from vomiting and diarrhea. I had a stomach pain and dizziness too.”

Infection diseases specialist doctor Faridullah Omari talks about the signs and symptoms of cholera, “Cholera may start in 24 to 48 hours with severe diarrhea. The patients go several times a day to toilet. T

hey will have abdominal pain and vomiting without nausea. They get thirsty quickly, their heart rate increases, the skin loses its freshness and elasticity. The patients may complain of leg pain. Their blood pressure will be low. If they are not treated soon, there is a risk of death.”

What do some people say about the causes of cholera disease?

Malalai, a resident of Kabul city says, “"I think that lack of hygiene makes people infected with cholera bacteria."

Moqadasa Munir says: Cholera is an acute bacterial disease and those who do not pay attention to hygiene when eating and drinking will get this disease.”

Doctor Omari says, “Bacteria is the main cause of cholera disease due to lack of hygiene, such as not washing hands with clean water and soap after going to the toilet and before eating food, eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, unwashed fruits and unwashed vegetables. This disease also transmits from an infected person to a healthy one.”

How do some people treat cholera disease?

Muhammad Sami from Ghazni province says, “My little brother was suffering from cholera. My mother   dissolved half a teaspoon of salt and four teaspoons of sugar in a glass of water and gave it to him four or five times a day. This solution was helpful, but we took him to the hospital for the essential treatment.”

A woman who does not want to mention her name says, “We mix some green tea leaves with a little salt and give it to the patient and it stops his/her vomiting. We also grind the hard shell of almonds and give it to the patient with yogurt.”

Doctor Omari says, “Pre-boiled water, tea, apple and banana juice can help in healing intestinal ulcers. Prune fruit, watermelon, whey, milk or fruit juice is useful in other diseases and normal conditions, but they increase diarrhea and vomiting in cholera.

If a sachet of serum is used, it is useful, or if it is not available, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt with six teaspoons of sugar in four glasses of water, and give it to the patient several times. This solution would prevent the patient from the risk of death until reaching the hospital.”