Symptoms of Norovirus and How to Avoid It?

Do you know about the symptoms of norovirus? No? Well, here's an overview of what this infection is all about. In this article, we will about what exactly is norovirus, its symptoms, its causes, and how you can prevent it.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus, also called stomach flu or winter vomiting bug, is a highly contagious infection that passes through direct or indirect contact with an infected person. The infection can even spread through contaminated water, food, and surfaces, and can also pass quickly in closed quarters, including schools, hospitals, offices, etc.

Though it's not actually flu, the vomiting and diarrhea can be severe and badly affect your health.

What are the causes of norovirus?

Norovirus can spread through foods. (Photo via Pexels/Antony Trivet)

There are many causes of norovirus, and people can get the infection in many ways.

You can get a norovirus infection through direct contact with someone who's sick or perhaps you sit on an infected surface or touch an infected door before touching your nose or mouth, or drinking or eating contaminated water and food.

The tiny particles enter the body through your nose or mouth, make their way to the stomach and enter the intestine, causing various symptoms of norovirus. Sometimes, certain sea foods, such as oysters, are already contaminated with norovirus, and further spread after consuming or even touching it.

Symptoms of norovirus

Fever is a symptom of norovirus. (Photo via Pexels/Anna Shvets)

Symptoms of norovirus start between 12 and 48 hours after being exposed to the infection and can range from very mild to severe.

Some major norovirus symptoms in adults include the following:

severe vomiting and nausea
fever
chills and headaches
stomach cramps
diarrhea or watery stools
body aches

Usually, the symptoms of norovirus last between 24 to 72 hours, but if they persist beyond, you must see your doctor immediately, especially if you start experiencing bloody stools.

Always remember that diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration, so, it's important to seek medical assistance at the right time.

Also read: 7 Effective Ways to Protect Your Body from Dehydration

Symptoms of norovirus in babies

Infants and toddlers are more vulnerable to viruses and are more likely to get infected. So, it's important to look out for certain symptoms so that serious complications can be avoided.

Symptoms of norovirus in infants and children include the following:

vomiting
sleepiness
diarrhea
irritability
loss of appetite

It's important to note that infections spread quickly among small children, so infected children should avoid schools and other activities.

How to avoid symptoms of norovirus?

Wash your hands to prevent infections. (Photo via Pexels/Ketut Subiyanto)

Norovirus spreads quickly in crowded and compact places such as parks, schools, nursing homes, etc., and is common during the winter season and early spring months. While you can't really prevent the infection, you can certainly reduce the risk of getting exposed to it by following important tips.

Some daily preventive measures you can take to reduce your chances of getting norovirus include:

washing your hands with soap and water, especially after coming back from the market, hospital, office, or park
washing vegetables and fruits thoroughly before consuming them
cooking seafood safely and properly
not consuming foods prepared by a sick person
avoiding going out if you are sick

There's no treatment to cure this infection, but following certain steps can ease symptoms and help you feel much better. These include drinking lots of water and healthy liquids, eating bland and homemade foods, and getting proper rest.