Dorothy FarrarNorovirus infection (Noroviruses)
Norovirus infection is caused by noroviruses . When this occurs in humans, it is also called Norwalk virus. This gastrointestinal infection is very contagious and is transmitted by smear or contact infection.
What is norovirus infection?
Especially in recent times, the keyword norovirus has been piling up again in the press. Especially in the winter period, the infection often spreads at breakneck speed and often paralyzes entire kindergartens, schools or retirement homes. Once it has broken out, the spread of the noro pathogen is difficult to stop. The main reason is a lack of hygiene.
Symptoms of the disease are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach and intestinal cramps , and less often joint pain and headaches. After the symptoms of the disease have subsided, the noroviruses remain in the body for a few days and are constantly being excreted.
The symptoms usually appear suddenly after an average incubation period of one to three days. However, the risk of infection persists for some time after the symptoms have subsided.
Norovirus infection can spread to an epidemic. Epidemics mainly occur when many people gather in the same place, such as in hospitals, schools, kindergartens, homes, at parties, festivals or school trips. A vaccine to protect against norovirus infection is not yet available.
causes
Behind many diarrheal diseases caused by bacteria are the so-called noroviruses. The cause of infection with the norovirus is the highly contagious norovirus of the same name.
Small children and older people in particular often contract norovirus infections. There is a high risk of infection in community facilities, such as kindergartens or retirement homes.
Noroviruses can spread in food or drinks and do not die even at temperatures of -20 or +60 degrees Celsius. They can also multiply in textiles such as towels, washcloths, bed linen or clothing.
The noroviruses can thus enter the body and lead to an infection. In this way, the norovirus infection can spread further and further, especially if hygiene measures are not rigorously observed.
Because the norovirus is transmitted through contact infection, most people are infected by touching contaminated objects that may have small traces of vomit or stool on them. For example, if you touch taps, toilets, door handles or kitchen utensils that a sick person has touched before, infection can occur very quickly.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of a norovirus infection:
The classic symptoms of norovirus disease usually appear in the form of sudden diarrhea, which occurs severely several times a day. Patients also suffer from severe nausea, which is often accompanied by vomiting. In addition, many infected people complain of abdominal pain or even severe abdominal cramps. Strong temperature fluctuations are also widespread, ranging from sweating to shivering. At this point it should be mentioned that only a few norovirus patients have to struggle with fever.
The course of an infection with the highly contagious noroviruses is usually as follows: After an infection period of about eight hours, the symptoms described above quickly appear in those affected. Depending on age and general physical condition, a norovirus infection lasts between two and four days. However, adult norovirus patients are not only highly contagious during the critical phase of the disease, there is also a high risk of infection up to 48 hours later. According to medical studies, noroviruses can still be detected in the excretions of children and adolescents two months after the illness.
Diagnose
The symptoms of a norovirus infection appear in the form of sudden diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. There is also a strong feeling of illness with headaches and body aches. As a rule, the norovirus infection is short and severe. This usually subsides after a day or two.
The treatment for norovirus infection consists in making up for the loss of fluids caused by the profuse diarrhea by drinking enough water or tea. A special diet is not necessary for this disease. Typical home remedies, such as cola and pretzel sticks, are not recommended for infants and small children.
In severe cases, norovirus infection requires hospital treatment. Here patients receive sufficient liquid with nutrients and electrolytes as an infusion.
complications
Norovirus infection is characterized by severe symptoms but resolves spontaneously in many cases. However, there are complications that may require a doctor’s visit.
The severity of diarrhea and vomiting can result in a lack of fluids, which significantly weakens the patient’s circulation. Dizziness and fainting can result if the required amount of liquid is not drunk or if the body vomits. Due to the loss of fluids, minerals are often no longer available in the required concentration in the body. Complications depend on the type of mineral. For example, a magnesium deficiency can be recognized by cramps, and a potassium deficiency affects heart activity.
If the patient was already in poor general condition beforehand, a norovirus infection can even be life-threatening. In the case of existing clinical pictures such as severe heart disease, pronounced diabetes or cancer patients with a weakened immune system, the norovirus infection must therefore be closely monitored by the doctor. This also applies to seniors who are in a weakened condition.
Newborns and small children with this clinical picture are also often monitored in the hospital. Sufficient fluid can be infused here, which prevents the complication of cardiovascular failure. Transplanted patients with norovirus infection also need competent supervision due to the risk of rejection. Kidney failure is also a possible complication of norovirus infection.
treatment and therapy
Norovirus infection is a disease that normally does not require treatment and will heal on its own.
Since the body tends to dehydrate with diarrheal diseases, one should primarily drink enough fluids in the form of still water, electrolyte drinks, chamomile tea or black tea.
During the acute phase of the norovirus infection, it is best to refrain from eating altogether, firstly because the food is usually thrown up again immediately and secondly because various foods would only further irritate the digestive system.
When the symptoms slowly subside, you can eat clear soups and light foods such as rusks and other dry pastries, oatmeal or pretzel sticks. Otherwise, you should be on strict bed rest and, above all, avoid too much contact with healthy people.
In some cases, medicines for diarrhea and nausea can be given, but a doctor usually does not need to be consulted.
prevention
To prevent a norovirus infection, you should always wash your hands when you come out of the toilet.
Thorough hand washing is also a must before meals or after using public transport.
However, commercially available soaps do not kill the norovirus, only special hand sanitizers available in pharmacies and drugstores do.
If a norovirus epidemic has already broken out, the best way to protect yourself is to avoid contact between hands and mouth, always clean the apartment or house conscientiously, boil textiles and generally avoid contact with sick people.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.