Norovirus is a type of small, round virus with a high infectious capacity and resistance and is able to remain on surfaces where the infected person has had contact, facilitating transmission to other people. This virus can be found in contaminated food and water and is a major contributor to viral gastroenteritis in adults, unlike rotavirus, which infects children more often.
Symptoms of norovirus infection include severe diarrhea followed by vomiting and often fever. This gastroenteritis is usually treated by resting and drinking plenty of fluids, because the virus has a high mutational capacity, that is, there are several types of norovirus, and its control is difficult.
Main symptoms
Norovirus infection leads to severe symptoms that can progress to dehydration. The main symptoms of norovirus infection are:
- Intense, non-bloody diarrhea; Vomiting; High fever; Abdominal pain; Headache.
Symptoms usually appear 24 to 48 hours after infection and last for around 1 to 3 days, but it is still possible to transmit the virus to others until 2 days after the symptoms disappear. See how to identify gastroenteritis.
The main route of transmission of norovirus is fecal-oral, in which the person becomes infected by consuming food and water contaminated by the virus, in addition to transmission through contact with contaminated surfaces or direct contact with the infected person.. In addition, more rarely, norovirus transmission can happen through the release of aerosols in vomit.
It is possible that there are outbreaks of this disease in closed environments, such as ships, schools and hospitals, since there is no other means of spreading the virus other than the human organism. Therefore, it is important to wash your hands well and avoid staying in the same environment as the infected person.
How the treatment is done
There is no treatment for gastroenteritis caused by norovirus, and rest and drinking plenty of fluids are recommended to prevent dehydration. Medications can also be used to relieve pain, such as paracetamol.
Because there are several forms of norovirus due to various mutations, it has not yet been possible to create a vaccine for this virus, however, the possibility of developing a periodic vaccine, as with flu, is being studied.
The best way to avoid infection with this virus is to wash your hands before and after going to the bathroom and before handling food (fruits and vegetables), disinfecting objects and surfaces that are potentially infected, as well as avoiding sharing towels and avoiding consuming food raw and not washed. In addition, if in contact with the infected person, avoid placing them in the mouth, nose or eyes, as they correspond to the entrance door of the virus.
