Abstract
The electrocardiogram (E.C.G.) of 100 Nigerian patients with proved El Tor cholera admitted to the U.C.H., Ibadan, were studied. All records were taken within 4 hours of admission. Prolongation of the corrected Q-T interval (QTc) was the most common finding (66%). Flat, diphasic or negative T waves were reported in 44 of the tracings. Changes suggestive of hypokalaemia were found only in 11% in spite of the low serum potassium levels. High serum potassium in the pre-treatment phase of cholera has in contrast been reported by other authors. The increased QTc implies that hypocalcaemia might be a feature of cholera in the early stage of the disease. It is admitted that dehydration, acidosis, shock, hyper-/hypokalaemia, hypocalcaemia may all be present in cholera and affect the E.C.G. Accordingly, electrocardiography cannot be recommended as a guide in the correction of electrolyte imbalance.
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