Overview
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caught from contaminated water or food, and outbreaks still occur in parts of Nigeria, especially in the rainy season. It can cause such heavy, watery diarrhoea that a person becomes dangerously dehydrated within hours. Rapid rehydration saves lives.
Symptoms
- Sudden, profuse watery diarrhoea (often like rice water)
- Vomiting
- Intense thirst
- Muscle cramps
- Sunken eyes and dry mouth
- Weakness or collapse
- Very little or no urine
Causes & risk factors
- Drinking water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae
- Eating contaminated or poorly cooked food
- Poor sanitation and unsafe water sources
- Outbreak conditions such as flooding
Treatment & self-care
Start oral rehydration solution (ORS) immediately and keep replacing every stool lost — rehydration is the core of treatment. Severe cases need a clinic or hospital for intravenous fluids, and doctors may add antibiotics. Use safe water and good hand hygiene to protect the rest of the household.
See a doctor urgently if
- Diarrhoea so frequent the person cannot keep up with drinking
- Sunken eyes, dry tongue or skin that stays pinched
- Drowsiness, confusion or fainting
- No urine for many hours
- Watery diarrhoea in a young child, elderly or pregnant person
This condition can be an emergency. If any of the signs above are severe or getting worse, go to the nearest emergency room now or call 112 or 199 — do not wait for an online consultation.