Comparisons of cholera bacilli positive and negative patients in symptoms and laboratory findings among 191 cholera patients

Abstract

Among 130 cholera patients treated in Seohae Hospital in 1991, 86 were cholera bacilli positive and remaining 44 were negative. All cholera bacilli ´positive´ patients were confirmed bacteriologically by National Institute for Health team. Cholera related symptoms and laboratory findings were gathered by interviews and medical

records surveys. Symptoms and some serological laboratory findings are compared between cholera bacilli ´positive´ and ´negative´ patients in 1991 cholera epidemic.

Results are as follows

1. There were no differences in symptoms distribution and in mean values of all serological laboratory tests done between two groups. These facts support that both cholera bacilli ´positive´ and ´negative´ patients are persons who have cholera bacilli infection.

2. The age distribution of the cholera bacilli ´negative´ group tended to be much younger than that of ´positive´ group. The infection source of this group is believed to be the environmental reservoir.

This findings suggests that cholera bacilli negative´ patients have the possibility of endemic characteristics. We think it is worth investigating Vibrio cholera antibody titers of people in area with frequent cholera epidemics in Korea.