CAIE IGCSE Biology 10.1.17 How Cholera Causes Dehydration
Practise tracing cholera toxin effects from chloride secretion to osmosis, diarrhoea, dehydration and ion loss.
- Syllabus
- 2026–2028
- Course
- Biology 0610
Exam points
- state that the cholera bacterium releases a toxin causing chloride secretion into the small-intestine lumen
- explain that accumulated ions lower lumen water potential so water enters the gut by osmosis
- link watery diarrhoea to dehydration and loss of water and ions from the blood and body
10.1.17—Cholera bacterium produces a toxin question 1
[Maximum number: 6]
Cholera is a transmissible disease.
Question (a)
(a)
Explain how cholera causes diarrhoea.
[ 4 ]
any four from:
cholera / pathogen, releases toxin ;
(toxin) causes (more) chloride released (into small intestine) ;
lowering water potential (in lumen) ; ref. to, osmosis / movement of water (into the lumen) ;
(diarrhoea is) loss of watery faeces ;
loss of salts / loss of minerals / dehydration ;
Question (b)
(b)
Describe how diarrhoea is treated.
[ 2 ]
any two from:
oral rehydration therapy ;
drink mixture of, sugar / nutrients and, salt/ions ;
replace lost, water / fluids ;
AVP ;
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