Doxycycline Erythromycin Aside from antibiotics, there are many antidiarrheal medicines out there that have been developed. V cholerae: Treat infected individuals and contacts. Doxycycline is the first-line antibiotic, and erythromycin is second-line antibioti By decreasing duration of diarrhea and stool volume D. Prevention There are several precautions and preventative measures to be taken to prevent the spread and decrease the risk of contracting Cholera. The primary and long-term preventative measure is to provide universal access to safe, clean water and adequate sanitation, as Cholera is primarily spread through oral-fecal consumption through contaminated water. Water can be treated and sanitized by providing piped water systems …show more content…
Although the infection is often mild, if left untreated it can turn severe and result in death. Because of the thousands of deaths that it causes per year, it has become important to researchers and physicians to understand the mechanism of the disease and develop treatment options. We have come to understand that the disease can be contacted through contamination by food or water. The Cholera bacterium in the food or water, binds to a specific G proteins that activate adenylyl cyclase. The adenylyl cyclase in the presence of the Cholera toxin is repeatedly activated. This is done by the toxin indirectly enhancing the GTPase activity of adenylyl cyclase. Adenylyl cyclase being repeatedly activated leads to increased levels of cAMP. The elevated levels of cAMP lead to an increased amount of protein kinase A (PKA) in the cytosol. Overactive PKA causes chloride ion (Cl-) channels to open and stay open. Sodium ions (Na+) are attracted to chloride ions, so they also leave the cell. The increase of ions in the lumen leads to lower water pressure that in turn leads to water leaving the cells. This water loss leads to the symptoms seen in those infected: severe dehydration, watery diarrhea, and