Symptoms of cholera
Learn about the symptoms of cholera and what to do if you become ill.
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What are the symptoms of cholera?
Most people who have cholera do not show any symptoms or may experience mild illness.
If you do show symptoms, you may experience:
- nausea
- vomiting
- leg cramps
- watery diarrhea
In its most severe form, you can experience a sudden onset of profuse, painless, and watery diarrhea.
The symptoms:
- can appear 12 hours to 5 days after you are infected
- can lead to serious dehydration (loss of fluids) and even death if not treated quickly
What do you do if you become ill?
Consult a health care provider immediately if you:
- develop severe diarrhea or vomiting during or after travel
- have any of the listed symptoms or think you have cholera
Tell your health care provider:
- your symptoms
- which countries you visited or lived in
Start drinking plenty of fluids and use oral rehydration salts to prevent dehydration.