How does norwalk virus spread

Occasionally patients may need to be hospitalized to receive intravenous fluids. Navigation menu. Who gets norovirus infection? Anyone can become infected. It only occurs in humans and is found worldwide. How is it spread? What are the symptoms? How soon after exposure do symptoms appear? The incubation period is one to two days. What is the treatment for norovirus infection?

Only in rare cases does a person get very sick or have to go to the hospital. Most norovirus infections are mild and pass in a few days. So most people do not go to their doctors for a diagnosis. You can often diagnosis foodborne illness yourself if others who ate the same food as you also become ill.

If you do go to your doctor, he or she will make the diagnosis based on your symptoms, a medical history, and a physical examination. Your doctor will ask where you have been eating and whether anyone who ate the same foods has the same symptoms. A stool test is sometimes done. You treat gastroenteritis caused by noroviruses by managing complications until it passes.

Dehydration caused by diarrhea and vomiting is the most common complication. Do not use medicines, including antibiotics and other treatments, unless your doctor recommends them.

To prevent dehydration, take frequent sips of a rehydration drink such as Pedialyte. Try to drink a cup of water or rehydration drink for each large, loose stool you have. Soda and fruit juices have too much sugar and not enough of the important electrolytes that are lost during diarrhea, and they should not be used to rehydrate.

In cases of severe dehydration, fluids may need to be replaced through an IV intravenously. Try to stay with your normal diet as much as possible. Eating your usual diet will help you to get enough nutrition. Doctors believe that eating a normal diet will also help you feel better faster.

But try to avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar. Also avoid spicy foods, alcohol, and coffee for 2 days after all symptoms have disappeared. If you had diarrhea caused by noroviruses, you should stay home for 2 to 3 days after your symptoms end before going back to work or school. This will help prevent spread of the virus. You can help prevent infection by doing the following:. Current as of: September 23, Author: Healthwise Staff. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate.

How Norovirus Spreads. Minus Related Pages. Norovirus spreads very easily and quickly in different ways. This can happen if you eat food or drink liquids that are contaminated with norovirus, touch surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then put your fingers in your mouth, or have direct contact with someone who is infected with norovirus, such as by caring for them or sharing food or eating utensils with them.

You are most contagious when you have symptoms of norovirus illness, especially vomiting, and during the first few days after you recover from norovirus illness. Norovirus spreads through contaminated food.

Food and water can get contaminated with norovirus in many ways, including when: An infected person touches food with their bare hands that have feces poop or vomit particles on them Food is placed on a counter or surface that has feces or vomit particles on it Tiny drops of vomit from an infected person spray through the air and land on the food The food is grown or harvested with contaminated water, such as oysters harvested from contaminated water, or fruit and vegetables irrigated with contaminated water in the field.

Norovirus and Food. Norovirus spreads through contaminated water. Norovirus spreads through sick people and contaminated surfaces.