infections
Cholera
Symptoms of Cholera
Most infected people have no symptoms. When cholera symptoms occur, they begin 1 to 3 days after exposure, usually with sudden, painless, watery diarrhea and vomiting. Usually, people have no fever. Diarrhea and vomiting may be mild to severe. In severe infections in adults, more than 1 quart (1 liter) of water and salts is lost per hour. The stool is profuse and watery and is described as rice-water stool. Within hours, Dehydration can become severe, causing intense thirst, muscle cramps, and weakness. Very little urine is produced. The eyes may become sunken, and the skin on the fingers may become very wrinkled. If dehydration is not treated, loss of water and salts can lead to In people who survive, cholera symptoms usually subside in 3 to 6 days. Most people are free of the bacteria in 2 weeks. The bacteria remain in a few people indefinitely without causing symptoms. Such people are called carriers. 