Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the country. There is no treatment for norovirus, but the CDC recommends drinking lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. It can lead to gastroenteritis (stomach flu), causing symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Treatment of viral gastroenteritis ("stomach flu"). Norovirus Infection Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rather, it is a highly contagious virus that typically causes gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. Although cases are starting to level off in England, Ko notes, it's still unclear whether this record surge is a harbinger of how severe norovirus will get in the U.S. Norovirus is transmitted primarily "when bacteria or viruses shed in stool ends up on our hands and surfaces and then eventually ends up in our mouth and we ingest it and get infected," says Alhassani. WebNorovirus infection is caused by a very contagious virus called norovirus. It's caused by the inflammation in your stomach and gastrointestinal tract (digestive system). Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with vomit or fecal matter. Bacteria-associated gastroenteritis is primarily related to something you ate. The stomach flu can be caused by a lot of things, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. O'Ryan MG. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. J Prev Med Hyg. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS). Symptoms of the illness include nausea, diarrhea and stomach pain as the virus causes inflammation in the intestines, the CDC said. Or you can get it from eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with the virus. ", The CDC warns XDR shigella can spread antimicrobial resistance genes to other bacteria, creating "potentially serious public health concerns.". The typical culprits include: About 60% of all stomach flu cases in the United States are due to norovirus. Antibiotics can be prescribed to help clear up a bacterial or parasitic infection that's caused the gastroenteritis. Carry sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer for times when soap and water aren't available. Gastroenteritis also leads to other symptoms that include: A stomach bug generally comes on suddenly and hits hard. Influenza (flu): What you need to know. The primary culprits are: The parasites are spread through food, water, or soil that's contaminated with infected feces. And make sure your children do, too. Symptoms of Infectious Colitis and How to Treat It, Number of confirmed norovirus outbreaks submitted to CaliciNet by state. In some people, these symptoms may be present even if respiratory symptoms aren't. Most people recover It is not the same as the flu (influenza). By Kristina Duda, RN bug The illness typically resolves within a few days. If your symptoms have not gotten better after this time, please make an appointment with your primary care physician or childs pediatrician. Most will need fluids and supportive care. During the weeks between Feb. 6 and Feb., 19, lab reports of norovirus were more than double the five-year average over the same weeks before the Covid pandemic. An infected person can transmit the virus for days after theyre feeling better, potentially even up to two weeks, according to the CDC. The situation across the pond doesn't ease concerns either. Climate change sparks fungi fears, What to know about Marburg virus: WHO confirmsoutbreak. Its not yet at the peak weve seen in previous years, but its definitely on the rise and pretty suddenly in the past few weeks," Dr. Ali Alhassani, a pediatrician at Boston Childrens Hospital and head of clinical at Summer Health,tells TODAY.com. This content does not have an Arabic version. Sometimes, stomach flu may go away after 24 hours. (modern). People should watch for signs of severe dehydration, including dry mouth, feeling thirsty, dark/concentrated urine, and dizziness. Rehydration is important for infected people they must drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost through vomiting and diarrhea. Select the newsletters you'd like to receive. However, it's important to watch for signs of severe dehydration and to contact a health care provider if these occur, the experts note. The infection is most severe in infants and young children. I think were going to be starting to get back to the epidemiological pattern that we normally see, says Ko. If you have norovirus, you may experience vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain, however, the illness typically lasts between one to three days. Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors. In fact, 10%-15% of school-age children will see a doctor about functional pain. stomach flu Alyssa Hui is a St. Louis-based health and science news writer. Wash raw fruits and vegetables, and cook oysters and other shellfish. Wash your hands carefully with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers, and always before eating or preparing food. Its going up quickly right now. Eat foods that can be digested easily. But for norovirus, you need a bleach or a detergent base, Wilen said. Anyone can get norovirus, and can have the illness multiple times in their lifetime. Most people are infectious from the time symptoms begin until about two or three days after symptoms resolve, Ko says, but some people can remain contagious or up to two weeks after recovery. Rotavirus. States including California, Michigan, and Virginia are particularly seeing cases of norovirus outbreaks. Fever (usually low-grade), headache, and body aches are also reported. Although norovirus infection is sometimes called the stomach flu, norovirus is not related to the influenza (flu) virus that causes respiratory illness. Here's what to know about the stomach flu: Noroviruses are the most common cause of acute stomach and intestinal infections in the United States, reports the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. A surge in norovirus outbreaks could lead to an increased number of emergency room visits, Alhassani notes, or a reduction in the already-strained health workforce.