NOROVIRUS
STOMACH FLU: WHAT IS NOROVIRUS AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT CHILDREN?
Brrrrr….if you are in Texas like we are, last week was a hard week for us. What even is 16F? Have we been teleported to Canada?
We hope that you and your family and friends in Texas are safe, warm, and healthy and that Texas reverts to its usually sunny self soon. Winter brings the cold and along with it, other things. We wanted to take this time, during this especially cold winter, to stress that with this frigid weather come many viruses, too. We’ve been seeing a rise in rates of a certain virus in our practice, which is common in winter months (November to March).
So, what virus is rearing its ugly head right now? NOROVIRUS! This may sound unfamiliar to you, but you’ve probably had it or known someone who did!
Has your kid ever come home from daycare or school and had nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for about 2-3 days and then been fine? That was probably norovirus.
Norovirus is the most common cause of severe acute gastroenteritis or “stomach flu” in children under 5 (as well as adults, especially the elderly). It causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines, and that’s where it gets its name . In the US, it is the leading cause of food-borne illness. Each year in the US, it’s the culprit behind approximately 24,000 hospitalizations in children under 18 months.
So, what kind of symptoms does norovirus cause?
Nausea
Acute onset vomiting
Watery diarrhea
Stomach pain
Fever
Typically, norovirus causes a short illness. Symptoms usually start 12-48 hours after exposure and resolve within 1-3 days. Sometimes the symptoms can linger longer depending on your immune system.
How do we get infected with norovirus? It is transmitted through contaminated food, water, surfaces, or person-to-person contact via airborne droplets of poop or vomit from sick individuals. It usually occurs in close communities, like daycares, preschools, and cruise ships. In fact, medical professionals refer to norovirus as the cruise ship virus as norovirus is notorious for many news stories of gastroenteritis outbreaks in cruise ships.
The important thing to remember about norovirus is that it is highly contagious– very few particles of the virus are needed to make you sick. People can pass on the virus from onset of their to up to 72 hours after. Some experts state they can be contagious even longer than that! Just because they’ve recovered does not mean they aren’t contagious anymore. As this virus is passed from person to person, caring for your child while they are ill, you might also get it, though it generally runs a milder course in adults. The wonders of parenting, eh?
We know, it doesn’t seem pleasant to have norovirus. So, what can we do to prevent it? Just like most viruses– the answer is WASHING your hands!
So, how do we treat norovirus? Like many viruses, it has no vaccine and treatment consists of just managing the symptoms. Antibiotics don’t work.
Rehydration with clear fluids like Pedialyte is KEY. We cannot stress enough how important it is to make sure your child does not get dehydrated from the vomiting and diarrhea. The main reason children get hospitalized with norovirus is dehydration. Try to avoid this at all costs.
You can use Tylenol or Motrin for headaches, body aches, and fever. Check with your doctor about the correct doses for the age of your child.
Probiotics can also be given to help slow down the diarrhea.
If your child is vomiting a lot, contact your doctor. They can sometimes prescribe an anti-vomiting drug like Zofran to help.
Taking antibiotics for norovirus is NOT recommended – they can worsen the situation.
Because children can get very dehydrated from norovirus, it is important to monitor them for signs of severe dehydration when they have the stomach flu. How do you recognize dehydration? Look for these signs in your child:
Decreased urination
Dry mouth
Feeling lightheaded when standing up
Crying with no tears
Unusually fussy or sleepy
In some cases, your child might need hospital care with IV fluids. If your child is acting very out of character, contact your pediatrician to see if they may need to be taken to an ER.
Bugs like the stomach flu are a regular part of our pediatrician “diet” so to speak, and a regular part of growing up. We hope this post can help you prepare for the next time your child gets norovirus.
Your PediPals