Norovirus – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments
Norovirus – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments with Redeemed. In addition, Norovirus is a type of virus that can be transmitted through eating food or drink contaminated by the virus. Norovirus is the main cause of adult gastroenteritis in North America, accounting for more than 90% of outbreaks. Localized epidemics occur when groups of individuals spend a period of time in relative physical proximity in a confined location, such as on cruise ships, hospitals, restaurants, schools, etc. The virus can also be transmitted through the air through coughing. Individuals can remain infected even after diarrhea has stopped.
Norovirus , which causes diarrhea and vomiting , is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK. It’s also called the “winter vomiting bug” because it’s more common in winter, although you can catch it any time of year. Norovirus can be very nasty, but it usually goes away on its own in a few days.
You can usually take care of yourself or your child at home. Try to avoid your GP as Norovirus can spread to others very easily. Call your GP or NHS 111 if you are concerned or need advice.
Symptoms of Norovirus: Norovirus is one of the main causes of viral gastroenteritis in Brazil, the most common symptoms are
- projectile vomit
- diarrhea
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
Some people also have a slight fever, headaches, painful stomach cramps, and sore limbs. Symptoms appear one to two days after infection and typically last up to two or three days.
Norovirus Transmission: The main route of transmission is fecal-oral through person-to-person contact. Norovirus is extremely infectious and has a resistance that allows it to remain on surfaces that have been in contact with infected people, making sharing objects and collective spaces a problem. It can be transmitted through saliva particles or through contaminated water and the infection is also strongly associated with poor hygiene habits.
Norovirus Treatments: If you experience sudden diarrhea and vomiting , the best thing is to stay home until you feel better. There is no cure for Norovirus , so you have to let it run its course. You usually don’t need to get medical advice unless there’s a risk of a more serious problem (see When to get medical advice). To help relieve your own or your child’s symptoms:
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. You need to drink more than usual to replace the fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea – just like water, adults can also try fruit juice and soup. Avoid giving fizzy drinks or fruit juice to children as it can make their diarrhea worse . Babies should continue to feed, as usual, breast milk or other milk foods.
- Take acetaminophen with fever or aches and pains.
- Get plenty of rest.
- If you feel like eating, eat simple foods like soup, rice, pasta, and bread.
- Use specialty rehydration drinks made from sachets purchased from pharmacies if you have signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth or dark urine – read more about treating dehydration.
- Adults can take anti-diarrheal and/or anti-emetic (anti- vomiting ) medications – these are not suitable for everyone, so you should check the medication leaflet or ask your pharmacist or GP before trying them.
Babies and young children, especially if they are under one year of age, are at greater risk of becoming dehydrated. Read advice on caring for babies and children under five who have diarrhea and vomiting . Norovirus can spread very easily, so you should wash your hands regularly while you are sick and keep work or school until at least 48 hours after your symptoms
Norovirus Prevention: It is not always possible to avoid using Norovirus , but following the advice below can help prevent the spread of the virus.
- Keep work or school until at least 48 hours after symptoms have passed. You should also avoid visiting anyone in the hospital during this time.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom and before preparing food. Do not trust alcohol hand gels as they do not kill the virus.
- Disinfect surfaces or objects that may be contaminated. It’s best to use a chlorine-based household cleaner.
- Wash any clothing or bedding items that may have been contaminated separately in a hot wash to ensure the virus is killed.
- Do not share towels and flannels.
- Empty any infected poo or vomit in the bathroom and clean the surrounding area.
- Avoid eating raw, unwashed produce and only eat oysters from a reputable source as oysters can carry Norovirus .