Most people exposed to the cholera bacterium (Vibrio cholerae) don't become ill and don't know they've been infected. But because they shed cholera bacteria in their stool for seven to 14 days, they can still infect others through contaminated water. Most cases of cholera that cause symptoms cause mild or moderate diarrhea that's often hard to tell apart from diarrhea caused by other problems. Others develop more-serious signs and symptoms of cholera, usually within a few days of infection. Symptoms of cholera infection can include:  Diarrhea. Cholera-related diarrhea comes on suddenly and can quickly cause dangerous fluid loss — as much as a quart (about 1 liter) an hour. Diarrhea due to cholera often has a pale, milky appearance that resembles water in which rice has been rinsed. Nausea and vomiting. Vomiting occurs especially in the early stages of cholera and can last for hours. Dehydration. Dehydration can develop within hours after cholera symptoms start and range from mild to severe. A loss of 10% or more of body weight indicates severe dehydration. Signs and symptoms of cholera dehydration include irritability, fatigue, sunken eyes, a dry mouth, extreme thirst, dry and shriveled skin that's slow to bounce back when pinched into a fold, little or no urinating, low blood pressure, and an irregular heartbeat.   Dehydration can lead to a rapid loss of minerals in your blood that maintain the balance of fluids in your body. This is called an electrolyte imbalance. Electrolyte imbalance An electrolyte imbalance can lead to serious signs and symptoms such as:  Muscle cramps. These result from the rapid loss of salts such as sodium, chloride and potassium. Shock. This is one of the most serious complications of dehydration. It occurs when low blood volume causes a drop in blood pressure and a drop in the amount of oxygen in your body. If untreated, severe hypovolemic shock can cause death in minutes. 
people exposed cholera bacterium (vibrio cholerae) don't ill don't know they've infected  shed cholera bacteria stool 14 days  can still infect contaminated water  cases cholera cause symptoms cause mild moderate diarrhea that's hard tell diarrhea caused problems  develop more-serious signs symptoms cholera  days infection  symptoms cholera infection can include:  diarrhea  cholera-related diarrhea comes suddenly can quickly cause dangerous fluid loss — quart (about 1 liter) hour  diarrhea due cholera pale  milky appearance resembles water rice rinsed  nausea vomiting  vomiting occurs especially early stages cholera can last hours  dehydration  dehydration can develop hours cholera symptoms start range mild severe  loss 10% body weight severe dehydration  signs symptoms cholera dehydration include irritability  fatigue  sunken eyes  dry mouth  extreme thirst  dry shriveled skin that's slow bounce back pinched fold  little urinating  low blood pressure  irregular heartbeat    dehydration can lead rapid loss minerals blood maintain balance fluids body  called electrolyte imbalance  electrolyte imbalance electrolyte imbalance can lead signs symptoms as:  muscle cramps  result rapid loss salts sodium  chloride potassium  shock  complications dehydration  occurs low blood volume causes drop blood pressure drop amount oxygen body  untreated  severe hypovolemic shock can cause death minutes
cholera