what are treatment options for cholera
Antibiotic regimens for the treatment of cholera. Tetracycline has been shown to be effective treatment for cholera , and is superior to furazolidone , cholamphenicol and sulfaguanidine in reducing cholera morbidity.
Although not necessarily curative, treatment with an antibiotic to which the organism is susceptible diminishes the duration and volume of the fluid loss and hastens clearance of the organism from stool. Pharmacotherapy plays a secondary role in the management of cholera; fluid replacement is primary.
Antimicrobial therapy for cholera is an adjunct to fluid therapy and is not an essential therapeutic component. However, an effective antibiotic can reduce the volume of diarrhea in patients with severe cholera and shorten the period during which Vibrio cholerae O1 is excreted. In addition, it usually stops the diarrhea within 48 hours, thus shortening the period of hospitalization. No other drugs besides antibiotics should be used in the treatment of cholera. The choice of antibiotics is determined by the susceptibility patterns of the local strains of V cholerae O1 or O139. If antimicrobial therapy is to be initiated, it should be given when the patient is first seen and cholera is suspected.