Treatment

Most persons infected with the cholera bacterium have mild diarrhea or no symptoms at all. Only a small proportion, about 10%, of persons infected with Vibrio cholerae O1 may have illness requiring treatment at a health center. Cholera patients should be evaluated and treated quickly. With proper treatment, even severely ill patients can be saved.

Rehydration therapy, the primary treatment for cholera patients, refers to the prompt restoration of lost fluids and salts.

Antibiotic treatment reduces fluid requirements and duration of illness, and is indicated for severe cases of cholera.

Zinc treatment has also been shown to help improve cholera symptoms in children.

Cholera Treatment Videos

See the following videos for more information: Defeating Cholera and Managing Dehydration

Note: These videos may contain outdated CDC branding and agency names because they were produced in the 1990s. However, the cholera-related information might still be relevant for cholera treatment or dealing with cholera outbreaks. Please consult the current CDC Cholera page for current cholera treatment recommendations.

Defeating Cholera

The videos below discuss cholera and steps to take to prevent and treat the disease.

Managing Dehydration

This CDC video illustrates how to manage dehydration.

More Information

Page last reviewed: October 2, 2020

Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED)