Treatment
See the following videos:
Key Points About Treatment
- Rapid high-volume rehydration will save lives
- Many patients can be rehydrated entirely with oral rehydration solution ORS)
- Even if the patient gets intravenous (IV) rehydration, he/she should start drinking ORS as soon as he/she is able
A man being treated for cholera
Most persons infected with the cholera bacterium have mild diarrhea or no symptoms at all. Only a small proportion, about 5-10%, of persons infected with
Vibrio cholerae
O1 may have illness requiring treatment at a health center. Cholera patients should be evaluated and treated quickly. With proper treatment, even severely ill patients can be saved.
Rehydration therapy
, meaning prompt restoration of lost fluids and salts through rehydration therapy is the primary goal of treatment.
Antibiotic treatment
, which reduces fluid requirements and duration of illness, is indicated for severe cases of cholera.
Zinc treatment
has also been shown to help improve cholera symptoms in children.