How Long Are You Contagious with a Stomach Bug? - Hackensack Meridian Health

It's no surprise that you're contagious with a stomach bug when experiencing symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, but did you know you're also contagious for days after you get better?

The most common cause of a stomach bug is norovirus, a highly contagious virus. 

"Norovirus is a very common cause of viral gastroenteritis, inflammation of the stomach lining," says Rani Sebti, M.D., an infectious disease physician in Hackensack, New Jersey. "It causes fever, vomiting and diarrhea."

How Long Are You Contagious with Norovirus? 

Most people who are exposed to norovirus get sick within 12 to 24 hours. A typical illness lasts 12 to 60 hours – half a day to 2½ days.

After people begin to feel healthy again, they're still contagious for a while. Many are only contagious for 48 hours; others are contagious for much longer.

"People can shed the virus for many weeks after the illness has resolved," Dr. Sebti says. "Immunocompromised patients – with lymphoma, leukemia, bone marrow transplant – can shed the virus for months."

Expect to be contagious for 48 to 72 hours after recovery, per Dr. Sebti.

How People Catch a Stomach Bug

You may catch norovirus by:

• Touching (shaking hands) someone who has norovirus
• Cleaning up the vomit of someone who has norovirus
• Touching objects or surfaces that someone with norovirus has touched
• Eating or drinking food that has been contaminated with norovirus

Norovirus is easy to catch because virus particles can live for weeks on surfaces. Exposure to very few virus particles can cause illness, which helps it spread.

"It's a serious infection, especially in people 65 years and above and in children under 5," Dr. Sebti says. "It causes a lot of illness – about 20 million cases a year."

How to Treat Norovirus

There are no medications that can shorten the course of norovirus, including antibiotics. Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections, but stomach bugs (norovirus) are viral infections.

As your stomach bug runs its course, it's important for you to stay hydrated.

People who vomit repeatedly are unable to keep water down, leading to dehydration. To prevent this complication, seek medical care quickly, especially if you're 65 or older.

"They're not able to keep up with the loss of fluid because of vomiting and diarrhea," Dr. Sebti says. "It's too much on the body."

Instead of trying to drink fluids, visit urgent care or the emergency room. Doctors there will give you IV fluids to rehydrate you.

As many as 900 people – mainly older adults – die of norovirus annually. Dehydration is typically the reason for these deaths, according to Dr. Sebti.

"Norovirus kills more people than salmonella in adults 65 and older," Dr. Sebti says. "Everyone should take this seriously." 

What to Do After You Recover From a Stomach Bug

People who have norovirus are still contagious for 48 to 72 hours after recovering. You should limit certain activities, but you may be able to resume others. 

To reduce your risk of spreading the stomach bug to others:

• Avoid preparing and serving food. For two days after you feel better, don't cook, bake or prepare anything. The only exception is if you live alone and are feeding yourself.

"They can prepare food for themselves, but they should not prepare food for other people," Dr. Sebti says.

• Wash your hands often. Lathering with soap and rinsing with water removes the virus from your hands.

• Return to in-person work, in many cases. Many people choose to return to work as soon as they feel better. If your symptoms disappear, this should be fine in many industries. 

"I don't think you can tell somebody, 'You can't go to your computer in your cubicle,' if you have no vomiting, no diarrhea," Dr. Sebti says. "If they don't have symptoms, aren't taking care of somebody else or preparing food, that's fine."

• Stay home longer if you do certain work. People who prepare food on the job or work with patients may spread norovirus. Delay your return to work by at least two days.

"Health care workers should stay at home a minimum of 48 to 72 hours after resolution of symptoms," Dr. Sebti says. "Somebody who prepares food in a restaurant should, too."

Next Steps & Resources:

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.

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