CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INSIGHTS INTO PEDIATRIC CHOLERA: ANALYSIS FROM HIGH-BURDEN REGIONS OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Cholera is a life-threatening water- and foodborne disease caused by Vibrio cholerae infection of the small intestine. It is clinically characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and metabolic acidosis, which can rapidly progress to death if untreated. Seasonal outbreaks typically occur twice a year, during the dry season with reduced river flow and again during the wet season with heavy rains and flooding. The disease continues to pose a major public health challenge, particularly among children under five years of age, who experience higher case fatality rates compared to adults. Contributing factors include inadequate parental knowledge and poor access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. Cholera transmission occurs primarily through the fecal-oral route, contaminated food or water, person-to-person contact, and exposure within treatment facilities. Historically endemic in South Asia, cholera has spread to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The principal causative agents are V. cholerae serogroups O1 and O139. Diagnosis in resource-limited settings is usually clinical, with stool culture and rapid dipstick tests providing laboratory confirmation. This study employed a descriptive survey design with a sample size of 200 respondents. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The findings emphasize that cholera persists as both an endemic and epidemic disease, with outbreaks often exacerbated by natural disasters or poor sanitation in displaced populations.