The Cholera Epidemics in Argentina: Brief Historical Review View PDF

^*Trombetta Luis
Chair Of Infectious Diseases, Faculty Of Medicine, University Of Buenos Aires, Argentina

^*Corresponding Author:

Trombetta Luis
Chair Of Infectious Diseases, Faculty Of Medicine, University Of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Email:lusumar@fibertel.com.ar

Published on: 2023-02-25

Abstract

Cholera is a food poisoning caused by the ingestion of food and water contaminated by Vibrio cholerae. It is one of the oldest diseases of humanity and the first descriptions correspond to Hippocrates. The first documented epidemic occurred in India in 1817 and spread to Turkey and the Arab countries. In our country, the first outbreak occurred in 1856 in the city of Bahía Blanca, associated with the arrival of ships with patients and poor sanitary conditions in the city. The successive outbreaks were accompanied by high mortality, to the point that Dr. José María Penna pointed out that it cost the nation more lives than the war with Paraguay. This article analyzes the successive outbreaks of cholera in our country.

Keywords

Cholera Disease; Cholera History; Cholera in Argentina; Penna; Vibrio Cholerae

Introduction

Cholera is an intestinal toxo infection caused by the intake of foods that contain V. cholerae, a bacterium present in food and waters contaminated by feces that continues to constitute a permanent risk in many countries [1]. It is one of the oldest diseases of humanity and the first descriptions correspond to Hippocrates (400 AC) and to the written Sushruta Samhita (400 to 500 to c). The Cholera Morbus dates from the times of humoral medicine. Its etymology starts from two words: Morbus of Latin which means disease and cholera of Greek which means bile, based on the belief that cholera was a biliary disease. Pedro Pons, argues that, given its high mortality, the word cholera could derive from the Hebraic term Choli - ra which means evil disease [2].
In 1817 the first documented cholera pandemic occurred that began in India and extended to Turkey and the Arab countries in 1826 arrived in Europe through commercial and sea routes. The epidemic affected the entire continent in four waves accompanied by a high lethality rate [3].