Cholera risk factors


 * Associate Editors-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org]

Overview
Certain factors have been found to be associated with an increased risks of Cholera. Among these decreased immunity, decreased gastric pH, certain blood groups (Blood group O are most prone, blood group AB is least prone), and genetics are the commonest associated.

Blood group

 * Recent epidemiologic research suggests that an individual's susceptibility to cholera (and other diarrheal infections) is affected by their 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.

Genetics
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. 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

 * Use of antacids

Decreased Immunity

 * Malnourished patients