General information only. This Parent Resource summarizes WHO cholera information without providing individualized treatment instructions.
What causes cholera?
WHO describes cholera as an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
Can cholera affect children?
Yes. WHO states that cholera affects both children and adults.
What kind of illness can occur?
WHO notes that many infected people have no or mild symptoms, while a minority develop severe acute watery diarrhoea with life-threatening dehydration.
What does prevention focus on?
WHO emphasizes safe drinking water, basic sanitation and good hygiene as central long-term measures for preventing cholera and other waterborne diseases.
Acute watery diarrhoea has multiple possible causes. This page cannot determine whether an individual illness is cholera.
References
- World Health Organization. Cholera, 5 December 2024.