Norovirus, The Stomach Bug
Maladies of the gastrointestinal track are often referred to as a stomach flu or as food poisoning by those who think they have been poisoned by consuming some form of undercooked mystery meat product served up by their favorite greasy spoon restaurant. What they are most likely suffering from is an acute outbreak of the norovirus which wreaks havoc on the digestive system of those who are unfortunate enough to contracted the highly contagious bug. Norovirus is an illness that involves the inflammation of the stomach and of the intestines which causes severe symptoms that usually start within 24 hours after exposure and can last up to 48 hours after the symptoms start. Norovirus is a tough bug that has the ability to mutate easily and due to the design of the virus, it is hard to kill and is easily transmittable. Even though the illness in very unpleasant, most people recover just as quickly as they came down with it. The most common time of the year to become ill from the norovirus is during the late fall into the winter which is why so many people confuse it with the flu but it should be understood and recognized for what it is in order to help minimize its spread.
The symptoms of norovirus can be severe and sudden as the most common symptoms involve the onset of nausea, cramps, and a headache followed by vomiting and watery diarrhea and all usually at the same time. Other symptoms also include feeling feverish, muscle aches and fatigue. This illness usually lingers for up to 48 hours for most people but for the elderly and those who already have weakened immune systems, the illness can last longer which is why dehydration becomes such a serious concern. There is no known vaccine for the norovirus so the best thing for those who are suffering from norovirus is to try and relieve the impact of the symptoms they are suffering from. The best thing to do is to make sure that the patient is getting plenty of fluids in order to prevent dehydration. Medication for the headaches, fever as well as muscle aches such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen (over the counter products) will work as well as long as the patient can keep the medication down long enough to allow it to work. The body will want to purge anything that is in the system and it will do so with regularity until the illness has run its course. As a patient is coming out of the illness, items like dry toast or crackers are often a good food to help get the system back in order again but most likely the patient will not feel too keen to dive in and eat until they are good and ready which may be a couple of days.
Norovirus is really a highly contagious bug as the virus can survive up to 72 hours on an untreated counter or door knob. People who have been ill with norovirus are still contagious even after they start to feel better so it is advisable that those who are ill take an extra day to fully recover before going back to work as they could pass the illness on without knowing it. The virus is passed on by contaminated surfaces or objects that might have vomit or stool on them. A simple towel that might have been used to clean up after a mess can carry that virus for days until it is washed and dried properly and everything that towel touched becomes contaminated for up to three days. The make-up of the virus makes it resistant to common disinfectants and the only way to kill the virus is by using bleach or heat to kill the virus. Decontaminating the living areas and washing hands frequently with hot soapy water is about the best defense against the spread of the virus. The norovirus has been making repeated trips around our communities this year so I felt the need to share…I hope everyone has a great weekend and I hope that for those who are planning to attend Super Bowl events and parties, be safe and have fun. Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com