ABSTRACT
Cholera is easily treatable if individuals receive prompt oral or intravenous fluid resuscitation. If the patient can take fluids, they should be encouraged to drink oral rehydration solution and a glucose-electrolyte solution. Typhoid is transmitted through food or water contaminated by faeces and urine of a patient or carrier. Typhoid is also termed ‘enteric fever’, caused by Gram-negative bacteria Salmonella enterica. Cholera is a Gram-negative bacterial infection caused by Vibrio cholerae 01 and V. cholerea 0139. Typhoid encephalopathy may lead to delirium and confusion. Untreated typhoid has an estimated mortality of 20%, but is negligible when individuals receive treatment early. The reason for admission to critical care may be due to a complication, for example post-operatively following an emergency laparotomy for perforation or gastro-intestinal bleeding. Steroids should be used in severe disease or encephalopathy only.
