We’re totally in winter virus season. All through america, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention is reporting excessive ranges of many sicknesses ― together with norovirus, which is often referred to as the “stomach bug” or “stomach flu.”
As of early December, norovirus instances are double what they have been in earlier years.
“This year seems to be a banner year for norovirus occurring — there’s a lot of cases being reported,” stated Dr. Michael Sweat, the director of the Heart for International Health on the Medical College of South Carolina. The virus is usually most prevalent from November to April, he added.
Norovirus is thought to trigger some fairly nasty signs, however there are steps you’ll be able to take to remain wholesome and issues you are able to do to really feel higher if you happen to do get sick. Right here’s what to know:
When you’ve got norovirus, you’ll get sick shortly however gained’t keep sick for too lengthy.
As soon as uncovered to the virus, you’ll come down with signs about 12 to 48 hours after changing into contaminated, stated Dr. Matthew Lokant, an infectious illness specialist on the West Virginia College College of Medication.
“One of the hallmark symptoms is a rapid onset. Suddenly, you feel very nauseous,” Sweat stated.
Though this virus comes on shortly, it runs by means of people fairly quick, too. Sweat famous that most individuals are sick for one to 3 days, and Dr. Daniel R. Kuritzkes, the chief of the division of infectious illnesses at Brigham and Girls’s Hospital in Boston, stated that the norovirus resolves by itself and isn’t life-threatening for most individuals.
Vomiting and diarrhea are the telltale indicators of a norovirus an infection.
It’s not onerous to distinguish norovirus from different seasonal sicknesses. It’s a gastrointestinal sickness that’s marked by vomiting and diarrhea, in accordance with Kuritzkes.
He additionally famous that folks with norovirus “should not have any blood in their diarrhea, unlike some of the bacterial causes of diarrhea.”
Moreover, it’s possible you’ll expertise different illnesses that go hand in hand with vomiting and diarrhea, like abdomen upset, nausea and cramping.
Not like colds and the flu, muscle aches and fever are much less frequent in norovirus.
“It typically doesn’t cause fever, and so it’s not like when you have the flu or COVID, where you’ll have muscle aches and pains and upper respiratory symptoms like a runny nose or anything,” Kuritzkes stated. “None of those things are common with norovirus.”
That stated, you’ll be able to nonetheless get a fever or aches with norovirus, in accordance with the CDC. So if you happen to expertise these signs together with gastrointestinal points, you may need the sickness.
The virus spreads by means of contaminated meals, water and surfaces.
Norovirus can survive on surfaces for a number of weeks, Lokant stated.
“You could acquire the virus after coming in contact with everyday items — this could be contaminated food, contaminated water or contaminated surfaces like doorknobs or smartphones, especially when in close contact with infected individuals,” he added.
Lokant additionally famous that contaminated individuals “have the virus in their vomit and stool.” So, as an example, vomit particles can float by means of the air and find yourself in a noninfected particular person’s mouth or on surfaces folks incessantly contact.
“Outbreaks typically occur among people living in close quarters. That classic scenario would be an outbreak on a cruise ship, but other places to consider would be nursing homes or schools,” Lokant stated.
It’s additionally frequent for norovirus to be unfold by meals handlers, with Lokant including, “Foods commonly involved in outbreaks include leafy greens, fresh fruits and shellfish,” whereas Kuritzkes famous that uncooked oysters from Washington state and Oregon “have been implicated in some of the current outbreaks.”
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Norovirus could be very contagious. A few of our customary hygiene strategies don’t work in opposition to it.
Whereas alcohol-based hand sanitizers can kill viruses like COVID-19, that’s not the case for norovirus.
“The norovirus actually has a protective outer shell, making alcohol-based hand sanitizers less effective than hand washing,” Lokant stated.
In accordance with Sweat, the secret is to clean your arms rigorously for 20 seconds and to disinfect any contaminated or probably contaminated surfaces with a bleach-based answer.
He additionally really helpful avoiding touching your face when you’re out as a result of “that’s how it typically would be spread. You might touch a surface and then rub your nose or your eyes, and then you can get infected.”
Lastly, Sweat famous that if you happen to’re caring for somebody with norovirus, it is best to put on disposable gloves and a masks when cleansing up after them.
When you get sick, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
“The main thing is to do your best to stay hydrated,” Kuritzkes stated in regard to probably contracting the norovirus. He prompt drinks like Gatorade or Pedialyte, which is able to exchange the fluids and electrolytes you lose. It’s additionally essential to reduce “solid foods or dairy-containing foods, which are going to be harder to digest,” he stated.
Sadly, the one different important motion you’ll be able to take is to let the virus experience its course.
“There’s no vaccine and there’s no specific antiviral therapy, so it really is just supportive care, which is essentially fluid replacement,” Kuritzkes stated.
Most individuals recuperate in a single to 3 days, however the aged, immunocompromised people and younger kids are vulnerable to extreme issues.
“Older people may have other medical conditions where becoming dehydrated may carry additional risks because of poor circulation or heart disease,” Kuritzkes stated. “If you are unable to keep liquids down, and particularly if you’re starting to feel lightheaded or lethargic, that could be a sign of dehydration, and that would be a reason to seek medical attention.”
Further indicators of dehydration embrace darkish urine and dry lips, Sweat famous.
When you’re sick, it is best to isolate and keep away from making ready meals for different folks.
“If there’s anybody in the household who has symptoms of norovirus, they should not be preparing food for others,” Kuritzkes stated. “And then, if somebody has those symptoms, they, of course, should stay home from work until they resolve.”
Ideally, people ought to isolate from different folks till they’re feeling nicely once more, Sweat stated. However even as soon as you are feeling higher, you’ll be able to unfold the virus for a number of weeks, Lokant warned. That is significantly true for immunocompromised folks.
When you do get sick with norovirus this season, it is best to keep away from others for no less than two to 3 days after your signs go away, in accordance with the Mayo Clinic. It will assist hold these round you wholesome ― particularly throughout this time when instances are on the rise.
