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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffSeek immediate medical care if you develop severe diarrhea or vomiting and are in or have very recently returned from a country where cholera occurs.
If you believe you may have been exposed to cholera, but your symptoms are not severe, call your family doctor or general practitioner. Be sure to tell him or her that you suspect your illness may be cholera.
Here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from your doctor.
Information to gather in advance
- Pre-appointment restrictions. When you make your appointment, ask if there are any restrictions you need to follow in the time leading up to your visit.
- Symptom history. Write down any symptoms you've been experiencing, and for how long.
- Recent exposure to possible sources of infection. Your doctor will be especially interested to know if you have recently traveled abroad, and where.
- Medical history. Make a list of your key medical information, including other conditions for which you're being treated and any medications, vitamins or supplements you're currently taking.
- Questions to ask your doctor. Write down your questions in advance so that you can make the most of your time with your doctor.
The list below suggests questions to raise with your doctor about cholera. Don't hesitate to ask more questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
- Do I have cholera?
- Are there any other possible causes for my symptoms?
- What kinds of tests do I need?
- What treatment approach do you recommend?
- Are there any possible side effects from the medications I'll be taking?
- How soon after I begin treatment will I begin to feel better?
- How long do you expect a full recovery to take?
- When can I return to work or school?
- Am I at risk of any long-term complications from cholera?
- Am I contagious? How can I reduce my risk of passing my illness to others?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may leave you time to go over any points you want to talk about in-depth. Your doctor may ask:
- What are your symptoms?
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
- Have you had watery diarrhea? How severe?
- Have you noticed anything else unusual about the appearance of your stools?
- Have you been vomiting?
- Have you experienced symptoms of dehydration, such as intense thirst, muscle cramps or fatigue?
- Have you been able to keep down any food or liquid?
- What other signs or symptoms concern you?
- Have you recently traveled abroad? Where?
- Have you recently eaten raw shellfish, such as oysters?
- Are you pregnant?
- What is your blood type, if you know it?
- Are you being treated for any other medical conditions?
- Are you currently taking any medications?
What you can do in the meantime
If your doctor determines that you don't need to come in immediately, take measures to avoid dehydration. Severe dehydration is the most dangerous potential complication of cholera. For diarrhea and vomiting that may be cholera-related, drinks such as water, juice and soda won't adequately replenish both fluids and electrolytes. Instead, use an oral rehydration solution, such as Rehydralyte for adults or Pedialyte for children.
In most developing countries, you can buy powdered packets of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), originally developed by the World Health Organization to treat diarrhea and dehydration in infants with cholera. Reconstitute the powder in water according to the directions on the package. Always purify the water first by boiling, filtration or other proven methods. Remeasure the water, then add the powdered oral rehydration material.
If a pre-formulated solution is unavailable, you can make your own oral rehydration solution by mixing 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 3 tablespoons sugar and 1 liter (about 1 quart) of safe drinking water. Be sure to measure accurately because incorrect amounts can make the solution less effective or even harmful. If possible, have someone else check your measurements for accuracy.
- Cholera. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs107/en/. Accessed Feb. 19, 2009.
- Cholera. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/cholera_gi.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2009.
- Cholera. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch173/ch173e.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2009.
- Butterton JR. Approach to the patient with Vibrio cholerae infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2009.
- Menon MP, et al. Vibrio cholerae (Cholera). In: Long SS, et al., eds. Long: Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008:844.
- Seas C, et al. Vibrio cholerae. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Bennett, & Dolin: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005:2536.
