Resumo

GONZALEZ VALDES, Laura Margarita; CASANOVA MORENO, María de la C  e  PEREZ LABRADOR, Joaquín. Cholera: history and present. Rev Ciencias Médicas [online]. 2011, vol.15, n.4, pp. 280-294. ISSN 1561-3194.

Current medical literature about the theme was reviewed from the main web searching engines, and from international meetings concerning cholera pandemics. Characteristics related to the history, onset, the biology of the disease, its epidemiology, clinical chart, treatment, prognosis and prevention were analyzed. Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the ingestion of Vibriocholerae, a bacterium that lives in waters and food contaminated by fecal matters, which is transmitted through these elements, representing a permanent risk in several countries. The major risk is observed in communities and overpopulated locations with deprived sanitary conditions; however in a well-educated and well-prepared community having opportune treatment, lethality do not surpass 1%. Clinical manifestations can be mild, moderate or severe. Doxycycline is the elective antibiotic therapy but the most important are those to prevent dehydration. Antibiotics are used only in severe cases. Adequate hygienic education to the population is essential, together with food and drinking water treatment, in addition to an appropriate waste disposal.

Palavras-chave : CÓLERA [historia]; CÓLERA [patología]; BROTES DE ENFERMEDADES [prevención y control].

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