Cholera Disease in Babies - Causes, Treatment & Vaccine Side-Effects

What Causes Cholera in Infant?

Curious that how does cholera attack babies? Cholera is caused by a bacterium name Vibrio cholera (usually found in water or food sources), which produces a toxin that affects the intestines. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes it can be severe. The severe disease characterized by profuse watery diarrhoea, vomiting, and leg cramps. In these persons, the rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours. The severity of the disease is mainly correlated with the risk of severe dehydration, which can lead to death in a few hours. Treatment thus relies on rehydration adapted to the patient’s condition. This bacterium has been at the origin of devastating epidemics worldwide throughout history.

How Does Cholera Spread?

A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the faeces of an infected person. The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. The disease is not likely to spread directly from one person to another; therefore, casual contact with an infected person is not a risk for becoming ill.

Cholera Disease Treatment

Cholera disease can be simply and successfully treated by immediate replacement of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhoea. Patients can be treated with oral rehydration solution, a prepackaged mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with water and drunk in large amounts. Antibiotics shorten the course and diminish the severity of the illness, but they are not as important as rehydration.

Cholera Vaccine Dosages & Administration

Killed whole-cell V. CHOLERA O1 in combination with a recombinant B-subunit of cholera toxin (WC/rBS) given orally according to a 2-dose schedule 10-14 days apart. A live, attenuated oral cholera vaccine containing the genetically manipulated classical V. cholera strain CVD 103-HgR is to be given in a single dose.

Cholera Vaccination Side-Effects

The only reported adverse effect of WC/rBS vaccination is occasional mild gastrointestinal disturbances. Except for possible hypersensitivity to any of the components, no contraindications are known for this vaccine. It is well tolerated by HIV-positive individuals.

Disclaimer Note: This blog is for information sharing only & in no way of a prescriptive nature. Parents should consult the Doctor before opting out for any vaccination for their child at all times.