Electrocardiogram in 103 cases of cholera

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.