Commonly used medications for cholera include all of the following except:

Tripura CHO - 2021

Pharmacology

Medium

Appeared in: Tripura CHO - 2021

Explanation

Dexamethasone is a potent corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties.
It does not possess any antimicrobial activity against bacteria like Vibrio cholerae.
Using a corticosteroid during an active infection like cholera is inappropriate and has no therapeutic benefit for this condition.

Option A: Azithromycin is a recommended first-line antibiotic for treating cholera, especially in children and pregnant women. It is effective as a single-dose regimen.
Option B: Tetracycline and its derivative, doxycycline, are standard antibiotics used to treat cholera in areas where the bacteria remains susceptible. Doxycycline is often preferred as a single dose.
Option C: Ampicillin is an antibiotic. Although it is not a preferred or commonly used drug for cholera today due to widespread bacterial resistance, it belongs to the correct class of drugs (antibiotics) used to treat bacterial infections. The question asks for the option that is fundamentally not used, which is the corticosteroid.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacological management of cholera as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The cornerstone of cholera management is aggressive fluid and electrolyte replacement. Delaying rehydration can lead to hypovolemic shock, renal failure, and death within hours.
While antibiotics are secondary, choosing the correct one based on local susceptibility patterns can reduce illness duration and limit transmission. Using an inappropriate drug class like corticosteroids has no benefit and can be detrimental.
Nursing priorities include strict intake/output monitoring, assessing for signs of dehydration (skin turgor, sunken eyes, urine output), administering rehydration therapy, and infection control measures to prevent spread.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question: medications for cholera.
Recognize that this is an 'except' question. This means you are looking for the option that is NOT a treatment for cholera.
Categorize each option by its drug class. Azithromycin, Tetracycline, and Ampicillin are all antibiotics. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid.
Recall or deduce the pathophysiology of cholera: it's a bacterial infection. Therefore, treatment would involve antibiotics, not anti-inflammatory steroids.
The option that belongs to a different, inappropriate drug class (Dexamethasone) is the most likely correct answer.
Confirm by recalling that Azithromycin and Tetracycline are indeed standard treatments. Even if unsure about Ampicillin's current use, its class as an antibiotic makes it a more plausible (though incorrect) option than a steroid.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Pharmacological management of cholera
Stem keywords: cholera, medications
Lead-in keywords: except
Negative lead-in flag: This is an 'except' question, which asks you to identify the option that does not belong with the others. You need to find the medication that is NOT used for treating cholera.

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 1791-1793

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1370-1372