Cholera (synonyms: cholera asiatica; cholera asiatica (biliary dysentery); cholera epidemica; cholera maligna; cholera nostras (summer cholera); cholera-like dysentery; El Tor cholera; El Tor enteritis; classical cholera; pancreatic cholera (Verner-Morrison syndrome); Vibrio cholerae infection; ICD-10-GM A00.-: Cholera) is an infectious disease caused by the gram-negative rod Vibrio cholerae.
According to the antigenic structure, the following distinction can be made:
- Virbrio cholerae O1 – the causative agent of classical cholera.
- Vibrio cholerae non O1
Occurrence: Cholera infections occur mainly in countries with poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water. Furthermore, in war and disaster areas where the infrastructure has collapsed. Low social classes are particularly affected. Risk areas are located in Africa, the Near East, Southeast Asia, India and Indonesia, as well as in Central and South America.
Contagiousness (infectiousness or transmissibility of the pathogen) is relatively low.
Transmission of the pathogen (route of infection) is fecal-oral (infections in which pathogens excreted with the feces (fecal) are absorbed via the mouth (oral)), e.g., via contaminated water, fish, or other foods offered raw.
The incubation period (time from infection to outbreak of the disease) is usually only 3-6 days.
The following forms of cholera can be distinguished:
- Cholera asiatica (bilious dysentery).
- Cholera nostras (summer cholera)
- Pancreatic cholera (Verner-Morrison syndrome) – non-infectious form.
Cholera is very rare in Germany. In 2011, 4 cases of cholera were transmitted to the Robert Koch Institute.
Course and prognosis: The lethality (mortality in relation to the total number of people suffering from the disease) is, without adequate therapy, up to 50%. In this case, the patients die due to the pronounced loss of fluids.
Vaccination: A vaccination against cholera is available.
In Germany, the disease is notifiable according to the Infection Protection Act (IfSG). Notification must be made by name in the event of suspected illness, illness, as well as death.
