































See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
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: These deadly diseases are not extinct, despite common belief
© Shutterstock
31 / 32 Fotos
© Getty Images
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: These deadly diseases are not extinct, despite common belief
© Shutterstock
31 / 32 Fotos
Norovirus: what it is, how it spreads, and how to stay safe
This stomach bug is rearing its ugly head again
© Getty Images
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU




































MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week