Cholera
Overview
Cholera is an infection that can cause severe diarrhoea. It's not found in the UK, but there's a very small risk of getting it while travelling in some parts of the world.
Symptoms
Symptoms of cholera include: having lots of watery diarrhoeafeeling sick or being sicktummy paindehydration
Treatment
The main treatment for cholera is drinking plenty of fluids, including rehydration solution. Rehydration solution is a powder you mix with water to replace salts, sugars and minerals your body has lost through diarrhoea. It's usually available from pharmacies. If you're very unwell, you may need treatment in hospital where you may be treated with: fluids given through a veinantibiotics
Prevention
There are things you can do to help avoid getting ill while travelling in areas where cholera is found. wash your hands with soap and water regularly, especially after using the toilet and before preparing food or eating wash your hands with soap and water regularly, especially after using the toilet and before preparing food or eating only drink bottled water or tap water that's been boiled only drink bottled water or tap water that's been boiled brush your teeth using bottled or boiled water brush your teeth using bottled or boiled water do not eat uncooked fruit and vegetables (including salads) that you have not washed with bottled or boiled water and prepared yourself do not eat uncooked fruit and vegetables (including salads) that you have not washed with bottled or boiled water and prepared yourself do not eat shellfish and seafood do not eat shellfish and seafood do not have ice in your drinks do not have ice in your drinks