NOROVIRUS INFECTION

NOROVIRUS INFECTION

Overview and Facts

Norovirus infection is also known as the ‘’stomach flu”, “food poisoning”, “winter vomiting disease” and “acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis”.

The norovirus is a small virus (20 – 250 nanometers in diameter) yet it is highly transmittable among humans and can live for days or weeks. The norovirus group was first identified in Norwalk, Ohio during the year of 1972. There are at least 25 distinct strains that can affect people, most commonly, older children and adults.

Cause and Transmission

Infection by the norovirus occurs when an individual:

  • Hasdirect contact with an infected individual
  • Consumessubstances that are contaminated with fluids or feces from an infected individual,
  • Touches a contaminated surface and then places an unclean hand in the mouth

Individuals who are already infected by the norovirus can expel 30 million particles, and unfortunately, it only takes 10 to 100 particles to cause another norovirus infection. The virus often causes outbreaks when and where clusters of people assemble.

Types and Symptoms

SYMPTOMS

The norovirus infection usually develops symptoms in 12 – 48 hours after infection. The disease is characterized by the abrupt start of vomiting and non-bloody diarrhea. Most common signs include:

  • Stomach pain
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Body aches
  • Inflammation of the stomach or intestines (acute gastroenteritis).

Severely infected individuals will vomit and may have diarrhea for countless times in a day, which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration simultaneously causes dizziness, dryness of the mouth and throat, and less urination to retain water in the body.

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

In healthy individuals, people who have norovirus infection get better on their own after 1 – 3 days. If symptoms persist after three days, a doctor’s consult is needed.

The doctor will arrive at the final diagnosis after the results of specific tests are present. The tests that are done to precisely help identify the virus are:

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
  • Enzyme-base Immunoassays (EIA)

The PCR test is the preferred test to use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The EIA test is used to detect the norovirus in a stool sample.

 

TREATMENT

Currently, there is no vaccine available to treat the norovirus, and it is also not treatable by antiviral drugs.

One of the few things that a norovirus infected individual can do to help manage the condition is by self-care methods to prevent dehydration. This can be achieved by drinking plenty of liquids, especially water. Juices that are high in Vitamin C content also help such as grape and lemon juice. Severe dehydration is treated with intravenous (IV) fluids as per doctor’s prescription. Some doctors recommend the use of oral rehydration solutions/salts (ORS), which are available in pharmacies without a prescription.

These methods aim to replace the lost fluids and electrolytes during vomiting and diarrhea in the course of the norovirus infection.

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