What are the symptoms of illness caused by noroviruses?
The symptoms of norovirus illness usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In most people the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults. Most people with norovirus illness have both of these symptoms.
What is the name of the illness caused by noroviruses?
Illness caused by norovirus infection has several names, including:
- stomach flu - this "stomach flu" is not related to the flu (or influenza), which is a respiratory illness caused by influenza virus.
- viral gastroenteritis - the most common name for illness caused by norovirus. Gastroenteritis refers to an inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
- acute gastroenteritis
- non-bacterial gastroenteritis
- food poisoning (although there are other causes of food poisoning)
- calicivirus infection
How serious is norovirus disease?
People may feel very sick and vomit many times a day, but most people get better within 1 or 2 days, and they have no long-term health effects related to their illness. However, sometimes people are unable to drink enough liquids to replace the liquids they lost because of vomiting and diarrhea. These persons can become dehydrated and may need special medical attention. This problem with dehydration is usually only seen among the very young, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.
How do people become infected with noroviruses?
Noroviruses are found in the stool or vomit of infected people. People can become infected with the virus in several ways, including:
- eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus;
- touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hand in their mouth;
- having direct contact with another person who is infected and showing symptoms (for example, when caring for someone with illness, or sharing foods or eating utensils with someone who is ill).
Persons working in day-care centers or nursing homes should pay special attention to children or residents who have norovirus illness. This virus is very contagious and can spread rapidly throughout such environments.
When do symptoms appear?
Symptoms of norovirus illness usually begin about 24 to 48 hours after ingestion of the virus, but they can appear as early as 12 hours after exposure.
Are noroviruses contagious?
Noroviruses are very contagious and can spread easily from person to person. Both stool and vomit are infectious. Particular care should be taken with young children in diapers who may have diarrhea.How long are people contagious?
People infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days after recovery. Some people may be contagious for as long as 2 weeks after recovery. Therefore, it is particularly important for people to use good handwashing and other hygienic practices after they have recently recovered from norovirus illness.
Who gets norovirus infection?
Anyone can become infected with these viruses. There are many different strains of norovirus, which makes it difficult for a person's body to develop long-lasting immunity. Therefore, norovirus illness can recur throughout a person's lifetime. In addition, because of differences in genetic factors, some people are more likely to become infected and develop more severe illness than others.
The virus that causes "stomach-flu" or gastroenteritis is the norovirus. This kind of virus cannot be treated by antibiotics which need special medical attention and it only grows inside the body.
Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramping are some of the symptoms that determine if a person has a norovirus. People who have the norovirus suddenly feel very sick and experience the symptoms for about one or two days. But the illness begins about two to three days after getting the virus. But there are also some cases that the illness may be experienced as early as 12 hours after exposure. During this stage, there are some people especially among the youth, elderly and weak immune system persons who get dehydrated because they are unable to intake water.
But if a person is starting to get ill, vomits and experiences diarrhea, they should already take in a lot of fluids to prevent dehydration. It is said that dehydration is the most serious effect brought by the norovirus and should be avoided as possible. Young children, the elderly and the sick are most common victims of dehydration.
There are many ways of acquiring the norovirus. It can be through eating food or drinking liquids contaminated by it. Placing their hands in their mouths after touching a surface or object contaminated with it. Also, people can get the said virus by having direct contact with the person who has it already like caring for people will the illness.
Much attention is needed to people working in day-care centers or nursing homes who have norovirus illness. Because it is highly infectious, it can spread rapidly with such environments. Also, the stool and the vomit of the people who have norovirus illness are contagious.
Sadly, there has not been any antiviral medical treatment made for the norovirus nor has there been any vaccination for its prevention.
Washing the hands especially after using the toilet and changing the diapers can prevent the person from getting the norovirus. Before eating fruits, vegetables and steamed oysters, it should be washed thoroughly. Disinfecting the surfaces having the norovirus by means of a household cleanser should be done to prevent recurrence. Linens that may be contaminated with the norovirus after illness should be removed immediately whereas the clothing should be washed. The vomit and/or stool should be discarded or flushed in the toilet. In addition, keeping and making sure that the surrounding area is kept clean to avoid getting the illness again.
