Lasts for a shorter period of time.
VERY unfortunate title...
What are noroviruses?
Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause the “stomach flu,” or gastroenteritis (GAS-tro-en-ter-I-tis), in people. The term norovirus was recently approved as the official name for this group of viruses. Several other names have been used for noroviruses, including:
* Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs) * caliciviruses (because they belong to the virus family Caliciviridae) * small round structured viruses.
Viruses are very different from bacteria and parasites, some of which can cause illnesses similar to norovirus infection. Like all viral infections, noroviruses are not affected by treatment with antibiotics, and cannot grow outside of a person’s body.
What are the symptoms of illness caused by noroviruses?
The symptoms of norovirus illness usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In most people the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults. Most people with norovirus illness have both of these symptoms.
What is the name of the illness caused by noroviruses?
Illness caused by norovirus infection has several names, including: * stomach flu – this “stomach flu” is not related to the flu (or influenza), which is a respiratory illness caused by influenza virus. * viral gastroenteritis – the most common name for illness caused by norovirus. Gastroenteritis refers to an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. * acute gastroenteritis * non-bacterial gastroenteritis * food poisoning (although there are other causes of food poisoning) * calicivirus infection
How serious is norovirus disease?
People may feel very sick and vomit many times a day, but most people get better within 1 or 2 days, and they have no long-term health effects related to their illness. However, sometimes people are unable to drink enough liquids to replace the liquids they lost because of vomiting and diarrhea. These persons can become dehydrated and may need special medical attention. This problem with dehydration is usually only seen among the very young, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.
How do people become infected with noroviruses?
Noroviruses are found in the stool or vomit of infected people. People can become infected with the virus in several ways, including:
* eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus; * touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hand in their mouth; * having direct contact with another person who is infected and showing symptoms (for example, when caring for someone with illness, or sharing foods or eating utensils with someone who is ill).
Persons working in day-care centers or nursing homes should pay special attention to children or residents who have norovirus illness. This virus is very contagious and can spread rapidly throughout such environments.
I don't touch door handles in public places and I use a paper towel after washing to open the door to the restroom to exit. I wait for someone to come out or in the store front if the don't have automatic doors, and hold the door by the frame up high if necessary,........
"We live in a civilized nation...maybe we should start acting as if we do."
I just got over this crap, even though I was in a known contaminated environment and washed my hands ALL THE TIME. Very contageous, nasty stuf.
Nancy's Fault.
Katha Pollit makes even her own co-workers barf.
It got our household all through Christmas. A total of 14 people in all counting the extended family ended up with it. All the kids got it first then the adults. You definitely DON'T want this one. We double disinfected everything and it somehow still spread like wildfire.
I had that 16 years ago.
I've been OK since then.
In before "it's the illegal aliens fault"
Unfortunately, to wash your hands you have to touch the appliances to turn on the water, and then touch the towel,which both could potentially carry the deadly virus, or worse. No, thanks!
Yeah...well...thats all fine and good unless your 2 year old gets the stomach flu and you end up waking up every hour overnight to change (#2) diapers that smelt so bad that the pregnant wife couldn't handle it. Try telling him that it was from him not washing hands after going to the bathroom. People will get flu bugs no matter how "germophobic" they are. I ended up getting it too...it was a 24 hour bug in my case. Luckily my wife was spared.
And yes...we all practice civilized (but certainly not OCD sterile-like) hygeine in my house. My $0.02.
My whole family has gone through this norovirus in the last few weeks (four of the five of us in the last five days). I spent last night bouncing between two sick kids (ages 8 and 4)--I was sick last Thursday and am still recovering; our 2 y.o. had it over the weekend and is still recovering. I am a walking zombie, but I digress.
I scrubbed down both bathrooms with bleach water, washed all infected sheets and clothes, and about everything else I can think of just today. I am normally a clean freak (just ask anyone who knows me), so we probably contracted it outside the home. My husband was the first one to get it before Christmas, so he probably incubated it and passed it along, or the rest of us picked it up elsewhere.
It's a nasty virus, but not all of us who are getting live like pigs (maybe the people who started spreading it, but not the infected).
Man, am I tired and cranky, lol.
It ripped through my daughter last week. She works at the hospital. It hit her hard. We're waiting for the first sign to hit us. I hope we escape it's clutches. Keeping Phenergan on hand just in case. It was the only thing that stopped my daughter's symptoms.
BUSH IS AT IT AGAIN!!
carolyn
Well, that explains my symptoms to a tee. And, I was in California when they started, too.
Got this on New Years Eve....while at a Restaurant! NOT fun....took a week to recover. And, I'm one of those hand washing freaks and am not around little children much. Not sure where I got it.