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Understanding Norovirus: Key Symptoms, Causes, and How to Prevent and Treat It

Norovirus infection: Symptoms, causes, Prevention, and Treatment
March 21, 2023
Amandeep Hospital

Feeling sick in your stomach, and your chest, and experiencing the need to rush to the restroom frequently, besides a feeling of general discomfort, and pain, and you do not know what might have caused it. Most probably it is the norovirus infection, which is also called the stomach flu, winter stomach flu, winter vomiting disease, norovirus infection, and food poisoning.   Norovirus infection can lead to sudden onset of diarrhoea and vomiting. Before we delve deeper into the symptoms and treatments of norovirus infection, let’s first take a peek into what is norovirus.

WHAT IS NOROVIRUS

Norovirus is a highly infectious virus that is often responsible for food poisoning as well. That said, you can understand how dangerous it can be. It is important to take measures to keep this infection at bay.

CAUSES OF NOROVIRUS INFECTION

Norovirus infection is caused when a contagious virus of the Caliciviridae family enters the human body. It inflames the stomach and the intestines resulting in gastroenteritis, which causes norovirus. The norovirus infection is often the result of

  • Direct contact with an infected person
  • Coming in contact with infected surfaces
  • Consuming contaminated food

BE CAREFUL!!! Norovirus can spread very quickly. People infected with norovirus tend to excrete many particles that can contaminate surfaces and things around them. People who come into contact with them can become infected with the norovirus.

symptoms of norovirus infection
 

NOROVIRUS SYMPTOMS

Norovirus symptoms include the following:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Loose stools or diarrhoea
  • Stomach ache
  • High fever
  • Body ache

So, if you are experiencing any one of these or maybe all of these norovirus symptoms, you better consult a doctor, because you probably need one and it’s all about your health, which should not be taken lightly at all. Always ensure that you do not self-medicate as this could often be dangerous. Be sure to consult a doctor always if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.

MILD NOROVIRUS SYMPTOMS: Lesser or mild norovirus symptoms often include

  • Low-grade fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Body ache

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF NOROVIRUS

  • Nausea
  • Loose stools
  • Stomach ache

These are some of the common symptoms of norovirus, which should not be ignored as trivial. If you are experiencing any of these, you’d better see a doctor.   OTHER NAMES: Norovirus infection is also known by other names, which give us an insight into its basic symptoms. The other names of norovirus infection include the vomiting bug as it usually is marked by nausea or vomiting.   Norovirus infection is also often referred to as the stomach bug as it entails stomach aches, gastrointestinal problems, and loose motions, all of which hint at problems in the stomach. The symptoms of norovirus infection are the clear signs of a stomach bug.   SYMPTOMS OF INTESTINE INFECTION: Norovirus infection is an infection of the intestine. The symptoms of intestine infection include

  • Fever
  • Loose motions or diarrhoea
  • Pain in the abdomen
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Body pain

NOROVIRUS SYMPTOMS IN ADULTS: Norovirus symptoms in adults include dehydration, fever, nausea, headache, body pain, and chills.   NOROVIRUS SYMPTOMS BABY: Besides the above-mentioned symptoms, norovirus symptoms in babies and children include decreased or dark output or urine, or no urine for at least 12 hours in children and dry diapers for six to eight hours in babies. Children could act cranky, have a rapid heart rate, and experience dizziness, confusion, and lethargy.   NOROVIRUS SYMPTOMS DURATION: The duration of norovirus symptoms is short. The disease subsides on its own within a few days.   FOOD FOR A STOMACH BUG: If one is looking for sure-fire and quick remedies for the stomach bug, then one should take just the right foods to cure the same. Given below is a list of some of the foods that one affected with the stomach bug, or the winter stomach flu, should consider consuming.

  • Rice
  • Bananas
  • Soup
  • Oats

Consuming these and other light foods prescribed by the doctor is one of the best treatments for norovirus

STOMACH INFECTION CAUSES

A person, who is not very careful with his diet and hygiene is quite likely to contract a stomach infection. Some of the most common stomach infections causes include

  • Consumption of contaminated food
  • Sharing utensils, clothes, or towels with someone affected with gastroenteritis
  • Lack of proper hand and body hygiene
  • Weak immunity

 

ARE NOROVIRUSES CONTAGIOUS/ ARE STOMACH BUGS CONTAGIOUS?

It is very highly contagious and spreads by touching and consuming contaminated foods and water.

WHO GETS NOROVIRUS INFECTION?

Anyone with very low immunity can get a norovirus infection if he comes in contact with a person infected with it. People, who consume infected food and water, or have poor hygiene can get infected.

IF I AM SUFFERING FROM NOROVIRUS, HOW CAN I PREVENT OTHERS FROM GETTING INFECTED?

Avoid contact with other people while you are ill. Disinfect the surfaces that you touch. Wash your hands frequently. Stay at home.

IS NOROVIRUS INFECTION A SERIOUS ILLNESS?

No, because the majority of those who contract it recover within a few days. In young children, the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and expecting moms, its severity may be greater.

HOW LONG ARE YOU CONTAGIOUS WITH VIRAL GASTROENTERITIS?

Norovirus infection heals within a couple of days. Its communicability period is up to two weeks after the disappearance of symptoms.

Treatments Of Norovirus Infection
 

NOROVIRUS TREATMENT

Having discussed the norovirus infection in detail, let us now discuss its treatment as well to help you understand what you need to do when beset by this infection. As far as an official or identified medical therapy is concerned, there is nothing called ‘norovirus treatment’. Norovirus natural treatment entailing proper rest, diet an plenty of water is the best treatment for this infection, which has to be allowed to take its time to complete its course and ebb out on its own.

HOW YOU TREAT NOROVIRUS As already discussed above, there is no treatment for norovirus infection. So how you treat norovirus depends on you and the doctor you are seeing. While your physician might prescribe medicines to treat your symptoms as and when they emerge, Norovirus infection is best treated when treated at home. Norovirus treatment at home is similar to those for stomach infections. It is comparable to diarrhea treated with a fever. It entails: 

  1. Eating light meals
  2. Enough sleep
  3. Consume enough water

CONCLUSION

Norovirus infection can affect a person several times during his entire life as the virus has several kinds. The right diet, stronger immunity, proper hygiene, essential care, and avoiding needless contact with affected people can help curtail its repeated occurrences. Read more

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