Norovirus: What is it, and when should you see a doctor? - Nebraska Medicine

If you or a loved one has recently had nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, odds are, it may have been caused by norovirus. The stomach bug, one of the leading causes of gastroenteritis worldwide, has been rearing its ugly head in schools, daycares and homes across the country.

The virus is spread person-to-person and usually occurs via the fecal-oral route, according to Darby Luckey, DO, Nebraska Medicine family medicine doctor.

"People hear that and think, 'Ew, I'm eating poop," Dr. Luckey says. "But really, it's that people don't always wash their hands appropriately. Maybe they're changing a diaper or come into contact with it on their clothes or a towel in the bathroom, and it gets ingested."

Norovirus can also be transmitted through airborne droplets when an ill person vomits, and through contaminated food, water or other objects. Alcohol does not kill the virus, so skip the hand sanitizer and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Norovirus symptoms

After contracting Norovirus, within 24 to 40 hours, a person may begin experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Watery diarrhea without blood
• Abdominal pain
• Body aches
• Fatigue
• Fever (about 50% of the time)

When to seek treatment

While most people will recover on their own, those with compromised immune systems and children under 1 year are at risk for more severe infection and should inform their provider of their symptoms.

Generally, symptoms will be most severe in the first day or two of the illness. Sipping on water or a low-sugar electrolyte drink will help prevent dehydration.

"For most patients, if they're able to rest and stay hydrated, and if the nausea and vomiting resolve within 24 to 48 hours, they should be fine," Dr. Luckey says. "But if the symptoms are so severe that they cannot stay hydrated, they may need IV fluids, even if they are otherwise healthy."

If you think you may have norovirus and would like to be seen from home, telehealth appointments are available and appropriate for symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

"Even if it's just to provide counseling on what it is, how it's transmitted, how to prevent passing it along to everyone in your community, telehealth is great," Dr. Luckey says. "But also, when someone needs to be seen, it's a good avenue."

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