Common conditions - An essential guide to norovirus

Norovirus, also called the ‘winter vomiting bug’, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant, but usually goes away in about two days.

SYMPTOMS

• The main symptoms are:
• feeling sick (nausea)
• diarrhoea
• being sick (vomiting).
• You may also have:
• a high temperature of 38oC or above
• a headache
• aching arms and legs.
• The symptoms start suddenly within one to two days of being infected.
  
  

TREATMENT

You can usually treat yourself or a child at home and should start to feel better in two to three days. The most important thing is to have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.

You or a child should:

• stay at home and get plenty of rest
• drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash – take small sips if you feel sick
• eat when you feel able to – you don’t need to eat or avoid any specific foods
• take paracetamol if you are in discomfort – and check the leaflet before giving it to a child.

Adults should stay off work and children shouldn’t attend nursery until the symptoms have stopped for two days.

Do not…

• have fruit juice or fizzy drinks – they can make diarrhoea worse
• give children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea
• give aspirin to children under 16.

Babies

• Breast- or bottle-fed babies should continue to be fed.
• If they are being sick, try giving them small feeds more often than usual.
• Give babies on formula or solids small sips of water between feeds.
• Do not make baby formula weaker – use it at its usual strength.
  
  

HOW IT SPREADS

Norovirus can spread very easily. You can catch it from:

• close contact with someone with norovirus
• touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them, then touching your mouth
• eating food that has been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus.

Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to stop the virus from spreading. Alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus. You should also clean toilet seats, flush handles, taps, surfaces and door handles every day.

MEDICAL ADVICE

Get advice from 111 if:

• you are worried about a baby under 12 months
• a child stops breast or bottle feeding while ill
• a child under five years has signs of dehydration – such as fewer wet nappies
• you or a child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down, or have diarrhoea for more than seven days.
  
  

Adapted from the NHS website, www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus