Cholera Treatment in Adults Aged 18 and Older (Not Pregnant)
Clinical Scenario
This protocol applies to non-pregnant adults aged 18 years and older presenting with cholera. The clinical management pathway is stratified according to the degree of dehydration identified at the time of assessment.
Treatment Approach
The cornerstone of management is oral rehydration therapy, with the specific plan selected based on the patient’s hydration status at presentation. Ongoing diarrhoeal losses must be tracked and continuously compensated throughout care — full regimen details, thresholds, and decision steps are in the structured protocol below.
Treatment Goals
- No signs of dehydration
- Able to take oral rehydration without vomiting
- No watery stools for 4 hours
- Passing urine
References
- Refer to the flow chart for cholera case management for adults (Figure 3) and children (Figure 4).
- Patients with no signs or some signs of dehydration are treated with ORS (plan A and plan B, respectively).
- ORS should be given regularly, in small amounts.
- During the rehydration phase, the losses from ongoing diarrhoea must be compensated by ORS.
- Has no signs of dehydration.
- Can take ORS without vomiting.
- Has no watery stools for 4 hours.
- Is passing urine.