What treatment is available for people with norovirus infection?

Currently, there is no antiviral medication that works against norovirus and there is no vaccine to prevent infection. Norovirus infection cannot be treated with antibiotics. This is because antibiotics work to fight bacteria and not viruses.

Norovirus illness is usually brief in healthy individuals. When people are ill with vomiting and diarrhea, they should drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Dehydration among young children, the elderly, the sick, can be common, and it is the most serious health effect that can result from norovirus infection. By drinking oral rehydration fluids (ORF), juice, or water, people can reduce their chance of becoming dehydrated. Sports drinks do not replace the nutrients and minerals lost during this illness.

Can norovirus infections be prevented?

You can decrease your chance of coming in contact with noroviruses by following these preventive steps:

• Frequently wash your hands, especially after toilet visits and changing diapers and before eating or preparing food.
• Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, and steam oysters before eating them.
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after an episode of illness by using a bleach-based household cleaner.
• Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with virus after an episode of illness (use hot water and soap).
• Flush or discard any vomitus and/or stool in the toilet and make sure that the surrounding area is kept clean.

Persons who are infected with norovirus should not prepare food while they have symptoms and for 3 days after they recover from their illness (see food handler information sheet). Food that may have been contaminated by an ill person should be disposed of properly.

There is no antibiotic (Norwalk virus is not bacterial) and antiviral agents that can kill or treat Norwalk viruses. There is also no vaccine yet to prevent infection. Never use antibiotics, as they tend to make the illness worse. Rest and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration are recommended for this type of illness. Dehydration is the most harmful effect that can result from norovirus infection. Doctors suggest drinking juices that gives additional nutrients to the body rather than drinking just plain water. Avoid drinking milk as it contains sugars that are hard to break down making it harder to digest. Milk may cause other gastrointestinal problems like stomach cramps and diarrhea. 

Some doctors suggest the following recipe for an oral rehydration drink that you can buy at most convenience stores and it is inexpensive to prepare: 

To one litre of water, add
- 8 teaspoons of table sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of table salt
- 1/3 teaspoon of Lite salt (potassium chloride) and
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda 

Contracting Norwalk-type viruses or noroviruses can indeed be very dangerous and deadly if you don’t follow the preventive measures. Remember to use proper sanitation procedures and utmost cares as soon as the gastrointestinal symptoms occur. Still, the best treatment recommended by health professionals is to drink plenty of liquids or electrolyte replacement.