Patients with severe acute malnutrition
Patients with severe acute malnutrition should receive oral rehydration with low-osmolarity ORS instead of the standard rehydration solution for diarrhea, ReSoMal, which does not have sufficient sodium content to replace the losses from cholera. More information is available in WHO’s guidelines for inpatient treatment of severely malnourished infants and children. Breastfed infants should continue to breastfeed. If ORS is not available, provide water, broth, and/or other fluids; avoid fluids high in sugar, such as juice, soft drinks, and sports drinks.
Pregnant women
Pregnant women with cholera are at a higher risk of fetal loss compared with the general population of pregnant women, and dehydration should be treated promptly. Dehydration can be difficult to assess and may be underestimated during the later stages of pregnancy. Closely monitor the patient’s degree of dehydration, response to treatment, and systolic blood pressure.
