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0 / 32 Fotos
What is norovirus?
- Norovirus, also called the "winter vomiting bug," is a nasty stomach bug. It's the most common cause of gastroenteritis.
© Shutterstock
1 / 32 Fotos
No relation to the flu
- Norovirus is also sometimes referred to as stomach flu, but it is not related to the influenza virus.
© Getty Images
2 / 32 Fotos
Extremely infectious
- Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
© Shutterstock
3 / 32 Fotos
Dehydration
- Frequent vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, the symptoms of which include decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up.
© Shutterstock
4 / 32 Fotos
Danger to kids
- Pay special attention to children with norovirus. Youngsters who are dehydrated may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.
© Shutterstock
5 / 32 Fotos
Stomach problems
- Norovirus is an extremely unpleasant and distressing condition, often accompanied by stomach pain.
© Shutterstock
6 / 32 Fotos
Feeling ill
- Those stricken with norovirus often have a headache and high temperature.
© Shutterstock
7 / 32 Fotos
Painful experience
- Pain, particularly aching arms and legs, is also indicative of the virus.
© Shutterstock
8 / 32 Fotos
Acute gastroenteritis
- Pain and discomfort also targets the tummy. Norovirus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines. This is called acute gastroenteritis.
© Shutterstock
9 / 32 Fotos
No safety in crowds
- Norovirus is spread easily. You can catch the bug through close contact with an infected person.
© Shutterstock
10 / 32 Fotos
Norovirus timeline
- A person usually develops symptoms within one to two days of being infected.
© Shutterstock
11 / 32 Fotos
Busy environments
- Hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, and schools are typical of the closed and crowded environments the virus feels most at home in.
© Shutterstock
12 / 32 Fotos
Holiday bug
- And you're not immune on vacation either. Hostels, hotels, and cruise ships also serve as potential breeding grounds for norovirus.
© Shutterstock
13 / 32 Fotos
Surface tension
- Touching objects or surfaces contaminated with norovirus and then putting your fingers in your mouth can spread the disease.
© Shutterstock
14 / 32 Fotos
Food for thought
- Eating food that's been been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus is another way to catch the virus.
© Shutterstock
15 / 32 Fotos
Contamination effect
- In fact, norovirus can easily contaminate food and water. It only takes a few particles of the virus to make you sick.
© Shutterstock
16 / 32 Fotos
No treatment
- There is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness. The infection cannot be stemmed with antibiotics, because it is a virus.
© Shutterstock
17 / 32 Fotos
Rehydrating
- Combatting the effects of norovirus in the first instance is to drink plenty of liquids to replace fluids lost from vomiting and diarrhea.
© Shutterstock
18 / 32 Fotos
Drink plenty of water
- Make sure children with norovirus also drink plenty of water. Milk, fruit juice, and tea can also help replenish important nutrients and minerals.
© Shutterstock
19 / 32 Fotos
Who's at risk?
- The elderly are most at risk of complications resulting from norovirus, mainly dehydration. Acute renal failure and cardiac issues number among other risk factors.
© Shutterstock
20 / 32 Fotos
Symptoms and complications
- The very young, those with underlying health conditions, and the immunocompromised are also at greater risk for severe symptoms and complications arising from the virus.
© Shutterstock
21 / 32 Fotos
When to see a doctor
- Complications among healthy adults are less common. Ordinarily, you should start to feel better in two to three days. But if symptoms persist, it's time to seek medical advice.
© Shutterstock
22 / 32 Fotos
Three-day rule
- You'll need to see a doctor if after three days the vomiting continues and you can't keep anything down.
© Shutterstock
23 / 32 Fotos
Running scared
- Likewise, suffering from diarrhea for more than 72 hours indicates a potentially serious problem.
© Shutterstock
24 / 32 Fotos
Blood spots
- And blood found in vomit or poop should be considered a medical emergency.
© Shutterstock
25 / 32 Fotos
Preventing the spread of norovirus
- Practicing good hygiene is the key to preventing norovirus taking hold. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet or changing diapers.
© Shutterstock
26 / 32 Fotos
Always wash your hands
- Similarly, get into the habit of washing your hands before eating, preparing, or handling food.
© Shutterstock
27 / 32 Fotos
Handling medication
- The same goes before self-medicating or giving someone else medicine.
© Shutterstock
28 / 32 Fotos
Clean and disinfect
- Clean and disinfect surfaces on a regularly basis—and immediately after someone has vomited, or has diarrhea. Pull on rubber or disposable gloves and use a powerful bleach-based household cleaner. It's also worth considering wearing a surgical mask whilst doing so. Note that alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus.
© Shutterstock
29 / 32 Fotos
Wash laundry thoroughly
- Household hygiene extends to washing laundry thoroughly. Clothes and linens soiled with vomit or feces require special attention. Handle carefully and wash at the highest heat setting.
© Shutterstock
30 / 32 Fotos
The virus can linger
- Be mindful that viruses continue to be shed after symptoms have subsided and shedding can still be detected many weeks after infection. It's therefore wise to maintain your hygiene regimen. Sources: (NBC News) (Reuters) (CDC) (Infectious Disease Clinics of North America) (NHS) See also: Diseases and infections that can kill you within 48 hours.
© Shutterstock
31 / 32 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 32 Fotos
What is norovirus?
- Norovirus, also called the "winter vomiting bug," is a nasty stomach bug. It's the most common cause of gastroenteritis.
© Shutterstock
1 / 32 Fotos
No relation to the flu
- Norovirus is also sometimes referred to as stomach flu, but it is not related to the influenza virus.
© Getty Images
2 / 32 Fotos
Extremely infectious
- Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
© Shutterstock
3 / 32 Fotos
Dehydration
- Frequent vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, the symptoms of which include decrease in urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up.
© Shutterstock
4 / 32 Fotos
Danger to kids
- Pay special attention to children with norovirus. Youngsters who are dehydrated may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.
© Shutterstock
5 / 32 Fotos
Stomach problems
- Norovirus is an extremely unpleasant and distressing condition, often accompanied by stomach pain.
© Shutterstock
6 / 32 Fotos
Feeling ill
- Those stricken with norovirus often have a headache and high temperature.
© Shutterstock
7 / 32 Fotos
Painful experience
- Pain, particularly aching arms and legs, is also indicative of the virus.
© Shutterstock
8 / 32 Fotos
Acute gastroenteritis
- Pain and discomfort also targets the tummy. Norovirus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines. This is called acute gastroenteritis.
© Shutterstock
9 / 32 Fotos
No safety in crowds
- Norovirus is spread easily. You can catch the bug through close contact with an infected person.
© Shutterstock
10 / 32 Fotos
Norovirus timeline
- A person usually develops symptoms within one to two days of being infected.
© Shutterstock
11 / 32 Fotos
Busy environments
- Hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, and schools are typical of the closed and crowded environments the virus feels most at home in.
© Shutterstock
12 / 32 Fotos
Holiday bug
- And you're not immune on vacation either. Hostels, hotels, and cruise ships also serve as potential breeding grounds for norovirus.
© Shutterstock
13 / 32 Fotos
Surface tension
- Touching objects or surfaces contaminated with norovirus and then putting your fingers in your mouth can spread the disease.
© Shutterstock
14 / 32 Fotos
Food for thought
- Eating food that's been been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus is another way to catch the virus.
© Shutterstock
15 / 32 Fotos
Contamination effect
- In fact, norovirus can easily contaminate food and water. It only takes a few particles of the virus to make you sick.
© Shutterstock
16 / 32 Fotos
No treatment
- There is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness. The infection cannot be stemmed with antibiotics, because it is a virus.
© Shutterstock
17 / 32 Fotos
Rehydrating
- Combatting the effects of norovirus in the first instance is to drink plenty of liquids to replace fluids lost from vomiting and diarrhea.
© Shutterstock
18 / 32 Fotos
Drink plenty of water
- Make sure children with norovirus also drink plenty of water. Milk, fruit juice, and tea can also help replenish important nutrients and minerals.
© Shutterstock
19 / 32 Fotos
Who's at risk?
- The elderly are most at risk of complications resulting from norovirus, mainly dehydration. Acute renal failure and cardiac issues number among other risk factors.
© Shutterstock
20 / 32 Fotos
Symptoms and complications
- The very young, those with underlying health conditions, and the immunocompromised are also at greater risk for severe symptoms and complications arising from the virus.
© Shutterstock
21 / 32 Fotos
When to see a doctor
- Complications among healthy adults are less common. Ordinarily, you should start to feel better in two to three days. But if symptoms persist, it's time to seek medical advice.
© Shutterstock
22 / 32 Fotos
Three-day rule
- You'll need to see a doctor if after three days the vomiting continues and you can't keep anything down.
© Shutterstock
23 / 32 Fotos
Running scared
- Likewise, suffering from diarrhea for more than 72 hours indicates a potentially serious problem.
© Shutterstock
24 / 32 Fotos
Blood spots
- And blood found in vomit or poop should be considered a medical emergency.
© Shutterstock
25 / 32 Fotos
Preventing the spread of norovirus
- Practicing good hygiene is the key to preventing norovirus taking hold. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet or changing diapers.
© Shutterstock
26 / 32 Fotos
Always wash your hands
- Similarly, get into the habit of washing your hands before eating, preparing, or handling food.
© Shutterstock
27 / 32 Fotos
Handling medication
- The same goes before self-medicating or giving someone else medicine.
© Shutterstock
28 / 32 Fotos
Clean and disinfect
- Clean and disinfect surfaces on a regularly basis—and immediately after someone has vomited, or has diarrhea. Pull on rubber or disposable gloves and use a powerful bleach-based household cleaner. It's also worth considering wearing a surgical mask whilst doing so. Note that alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus.
© Shutterstock
29 / 32 Fotos
Wash laundry thoroughly
- Household hygiene extends to washing laundry thoroughly. Clothes and linens soiled with vomit or feces require special attention. Handle carefully and wash at the highest heat setting.
© Shutterstock
30 / 32 Fotos
The virus can linger
- Be mindful that viruses continue to be shed after symptoms have subsided and shedding can still be detected many weeks after infection. It's therefore wise to maintain your hygiene regimen. Sources: (NBC News) (Reuters) (CDC) (Infectious Disease Clinics of North America) (NHS) See also: Diseases and infections that can kill you within 48 hours.
© Shutterstock
31 / 32 Fotos
Norovirus: the "winter vomiting bug" that's contagious
This stomach bug is rearing its ugly head again
© Shutterstock
The colder months are traditionally the harbinger of winter illnesses. Like the flu, for example. But there's one particular virus that's also become synonymous with the season: norovirus. An extremely contagious infection that causes vomiting and diarrhea, this nasty bug can infect people of all ages, but especially the very young and the elderly. Worryingly, norovirus appears to be spreading as the rate of positive tests spike. But what causes this distressing virus, and how can it be treated?
Click through for a detailed prognosis.
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