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How long does a cholera illness usually last?

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A woman in a pink dress receives medical treatment from nurses administering an IV at a crowded hospital in Saint-Marc, Haiti. — cholera A woman with cholera being treated by nurses at St. Nicholas Hospital in Saint-Marc, Haiti, 2010.

Cholera is an acute intestinal disease that typically runs its course in two to seven days.1

While the illness generally lasts within this timeframe, the administration of antibiotics during the first day of treatment can help shorten the duration of diarrhea and reduce the total amount of fluid replacement required. Because the disease causes rapid and extreme fluid loss, prompt medical intervention—primarily through oral rehydration salts or intravenous fluids—is essential to prevent severe dehydration and ensure a successful recovery.12