Norovirus infection: winterbug or stomach bug 

Norovirus is a non-enveloped virus that causes infection into the stomach and intestines of humans. 

Norovirus disease is a highly infectious disease that causes gastroenteric disturbances such as vomiting  and non-bloody diarrhea,which also occur in gastroenteritis.

 A person infected with norovirus continues to shed off the germs of the disease via feces (poop) or vomitus. 

The infection usually lasts for about 1 to 3 days. The symptoms may b from mild to severe degree.

The infection of norovirus is also referred to as a winter vomiting bug or stomach flu or stomach bug by many people. 

Norovirus infection can be prevented and controlled by emphasizing on proper hand hygiene  and safe drinking water practices .

What are the symptoms of Norovirus infection?

Norovirus infection can be characterised by the following three major symptoms:

1. Nausea and vomiting

2. Loose watery stools (diarrhea)

3. Stomach cramps/pain. 

In addition to the above symptoms, 

• You may have low-grade fever with headaches and muscle aches
• You may have diarrhea that are mostly non-bloody in nature.
• Feeling uncomfortable sensation in your tummy
• Feeling sick 🤮🤢
• Tiredness 

If your symptoms last more than 3 days and your diarrhea and vomiting does not stop considerably, then you are at risk of dehydration, 

The symptoms of dehydration are:

• Dry skin, dry mucus membranes and lips due to fluid loss.
• Low urine output throughout the day.
• Pale or dark coloured scant urine.
• Feeling your throat and mouth is dry from within 
• Feeling extreme weakness or dizziness.

What are the causes of Norovirus disease?

Norovirus disease is caused by a virus named norovirus. This stomach bug is spread due to several causes.

The following are the causes that may contribute to getting infection with this virus:

• Consuming contaminated food and food products.
• Eating raw or improperly cooked seafoods such as oysters. 
• Drinking unsafe it contaminated water.
• Improper handhygiene.
• Use of unhygienic food products either to cook or ready-to-eat foods. 
• Coming into close contact with infected persons stool or vomitus.
• Sharing close quarters with a large group of people.
• Sending your kids to daycare or preschool clubs with closed spaces.
• Touching contaminated objects.

How does Norovirus spread ?

The Norovirus infection can spread via fecal-oral route. The infected person can shed off the virus or germs into his poop and vomits. When a person vomits , the virus comes out into the vomitus and can spread through air if the vomit is not cleared for long time. 

The spread through air can cause you to inhale the virus and get yourself infected with it.

When an infected person touches the objects after touching his/her vomitus, the virus can stick to those objects, which when touched by other healthy person, can easily transfer or spread the germs to that person.

Eating undercooked sea food can also be a risk factor for Norovirus infection.

Norovirus upsets your stomach this causing gastroenteritis or inflammation of your stomach and intestines. See what is gastroenteritis?

For how long do the symptoms continue in Norovirus infection?

The typical symptoms of Norovirus infection start usually within 12 -48 hours after exposure to the virus particles and these symptoms may generally continue troubling you for 1-3 days before subsiding. 

It may take few more days to recover fully of you are a young children or an elderly person with low immunity levels.  Children are more susceptible to this infection due to less active stomach and weak immunity.

How is the Norovirus infection diagnosed?

The diagnosis of the disease is done based on the presence of the symptoms and the period during which it occurs or the particular cases during the season. 

Blood tests may reveal the presence of infection. Though it is unrealible and indefinitive for virus detection.

Stool and vomit samples are tested for RT-qPCR assays to detect the Norovirus antibodies. This tests may help confirm the diagnosis of infection. 

However there are no specific tests at present for norovirus infection. 

How is a Norovirus infection treated?

Treatment of Norovirus:

• For Norovirus infection, there is no specific treatment to combat the virus. However, replacing fluids and maintaining the normal bowel pattern by lifestyle and diet modifications, the infection usually starts to resolve within 1-3 days. 
• Recovery depends on the type of body and immune system. In weak persons, it may take few days to week to recover completely.
• Bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids is recommended.
• Treatment to reduce nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may be prescribed by your doctor.
• How can we prevent ourselves from getting Norovirus infection?
• Viruses tend to live almost everywhere in our environment. To prevent any infection, we must ensure proper sanitation or disinfection of the objects we use.

Prevention of Norovirus infection

Some preventive measures can aid in staying away from Norovirus infection:

1. Handwashing or handhygiene:
2. Always wash your hands before and after having meals.
3. Wash hands after touching laundry of I'll or sick persons in your family.
4. Wash your hands with antiseptic soap.
5. Sanitizer are not much effective but you can use. Don't forget to do handwashing though. Handwashing is the best practice to stay safe from infection. 
6. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for atleast twenty seconds. Wash hands after using toilets, before food preparation and after cleaning off any objects.
7. Food safety:
8. Always wash the raw foods before preparing meals.
9. Cook raw sea foods property after washing them thoroughly under running water.
10. After touching and washing the sea foods, wash your hands with soap and water. According to CDC, oysters are found to contain millions of viruses on them and they recommended to wash the objects or containers used to store them.  Seafoods must be cleaned multiple times before cooking.  It should be cooked at temperature higher than 145 degree F to ensure its safety for human consumption.
11. Always boil the water and cool it down before drinking.
12. Norovirus can easily spread if you touch the feces or poops of your child. As a mother, make sure you wash your hands with soap and water after cleaning your baby or children's buttocks following bowel movements.
13. Disinfection and cleaning process:
14. Make sure to wipe the floors with disinfectant solution of anyone in your family has vomited on the floors.
15. Always wash the clothes with antiseptic or disinfectant solution if anyone is sick in your home.
16. Make sure you wash your hands with soap after handling the laundry if you live in Zones where infection is more.

Norovirus infection is a viral infection that affects the stomach and intestine causing nausea, vomiting and non bloody diarrhea accompanied by stomach cramps. It can be prevented by maintaining hand hygiene and food hygiene.

Note: This post is for informational and educational purpose only, It is not a substitute to any medical or professional advice or treatment. See your doctor in any case.