Cholera risk factors

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editors-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [2], Sara Mehrsefat, M.D. [3]

## Overview

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Certain factors have been found to be associated with an increased risk of contracting cholera. Among these decreased immunity, decreased gastric pH, certain blood groups (patients with blood group O are most prone, while patients with blood group AB are least prone), and genetics are the most commonly associated factors. The greatest risk occurs in over-populated communities and refugee settings characterized by poor sanitation, unsafe drinking water, and increased person-to-person transmission.[1][2][3][4]

## Risk Factors

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### Contaminated Sources

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Risk factors for foodborne cholera may include:[5][2]

* Consumption of contaminated water
* Consumption of rice products
* Consumption of specific vegetables or fruits

Risk factors for sporadic cholera include:

* Consumption of under-cooked shellfish

### Overcrowding and Displacement

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The greatest risk of developing cholera is present in over-populated communities affected by massive displacement and overcrowding, commonly due to natural disasters or political/economical instability (e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes, refugee camps) by means of:[4]

* Poor sanitation
* Unsafe drinking water
* Increased person-to-person transmission

### Other Risk Factors

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#### Blood Group

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Recent epidemiologic research suggests that an individual's susceptibility to cholera (and other diarrheal infections) is affected by his/her blood type. Those with type O blood are the most susceptible, while those with type AB are the most resistant. Between these two extremes are the A and B blood types, with type A being more resistant than type B.[6][7]

#### Genetics

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* Variants in the innate immunity protein BPIFB1 (LPLUNC1) are associated with susceptibility to cholera.[3]
* It has also been hypothesized that the cystic fibrosis genetic mutation has been maintained in humans due to a selective advantage: heterozygous carriers of the mutation (who are thus not affected by cystic fibrosis) are more resistant to V. cholerae infections.[8] In this model, the genetic deficiency in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator channel proteins interferes with bacteria binding to the gastrointestinal epithelium, thus reducing the effects of an infection.

#### Decreased Gastric Acidity

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* Use of antacids

#### Decreased Immunity

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* Malnourished patients

#### Hypochlorhydria

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* Retinol deficiency

## References

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1. ↑ Glass RI, Holmgren J, Haley CE, Khan MR, Svennerholm AM, Stoll BJ; et al. (1985). "Predisposition for cholera of individuals with O blood group. Possible evolutionary significance". Am J Epidemiol. 121 (6): 791–6. PMID 4014172.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rabbani GH, Greenough WB (1999). "Food as a vehicle of transmission of cholera". J Diarrhoeal Dis Res. 17 (1): 1–9. PMID 10892490.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Larocque RC, Sabeti P, Duggal P, Chowdhury F, Khan AI, Lebrun LM; et al. (2009). "A variant in long palate, lung and nasal epithelium clone 1 is associated with cholera in a Bangladeshi population". Genes Immun. 10 (3): 267–72. doi:10.1038/gene.2009.2. PMC 2672110. PMID 19212328.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 World Health Organization. Assessing the Outbreak response and improving preparedness (2004) http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/43017/1/WHO_CDS_CPE_ZFk_2004.4_eng.pdf
5. ↑ O'Connor KA, Cartwright E, Loharikar A, Routh J, Gaines J, Fouché MD; et al. (2011). "Risk factors early in the 2010 cholera epidemic, Haiti". Emerg Infect Dis. 17 (11): 2136–8. doi:10.3201/eid1711.110810. PMC 3310583. PMID 22099118.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
6. ↑ Swerdlow D, Mintz E, Rodriguez M, Tejada E, Ocampo C, Espejo L, Barrett T, Petzelt J, Bean N, Seminario L (1994). "Severe life-threatening cholera associated with blood group O in Peru: implications for the Latin American epidemic". J Infect Dis. 170 (2): 468–72. PMID 8035040.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
7. ↑ Harris J, Khan A, LaRocque R, Dorer D, Chowdhury F, Faruque A, Sack D, Ryan E, Qadri F, Calderwood S (2005). "Blood group, immunity, and risk of infection with Vibrio cholerae in an area of endemicity". Infect Immun. 73 (11): 7422–7. PMID 16239542.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
8. ↑ Bertranpetit J, Calafell F (1996). "Genetic and geographical variability in cystic fibrosis: evolutionary considerations". Ciba Found Symp. 197: 97–114, discussion 114-8. PMID 8827370.

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