What Have You

There is a cholera outbreak in Misamis Oriental, Philippines and a State of Calamity was declared in the province. According to news reports, there are already 960 suspected cases of cholera with two confirmed deaths.

The causative agent of cholera is Vibrio Cholerae. Just like the typhoid fever outbreak in Real, Quezon, the modes of transmission of cholera are contaminated food and/or contaminated water. However, for cholera, one only gets sick if he ingests water and/or food contaminated by stool or feces of persons infected with the disease.

The diagnostic procedures of cholera are rectal swabbing and stool culture. Signs and symptoms of cholera include: severe diarrhea (profuse and watery as much as 1 Liter in an hour), vomiting, muscle cramps and dehydration.

Treatment of cholera involve taking in antibiotics plus fluid and electrolyte replacement through intravenous solutions.

Cholera prevention include the following:

1. Cholera vaccine
2. Drink only boiled water or distilled water
3. Avoid eating uncooked food

Possible complications of cholera may include the following:

1. Kidney tissue damage
2. Circulatory Collapse
3. Severe Dehydration
4. Metabolic Acidosis

When left untreated, the mortality rate of cholera among infected people is 50% . In view of Nursing research, I think the incidence of cholera in places like Misamis Oriental is one good nursing topic for an undergraduate thesis because it will expose and immerse student-researchers in their own communities (which is the rationale of Community Health Nursing). The scope of the research could be in one municipality or city only.

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