Right now, the norovirus is once again a very big topic. Doctors' offices are being flooded with people suffering from diarrhea and vomiting. Only those who know what the norovirus is can protect themselves from it. First and foremost, the norovirus is very dangerous, especially for babies, small children, the elderly, and pregnant women. The diarrhea and vomiting can lead to acute fluid loss in the body. The entire circulatory system can collapse!
How is the norovirus transmitted and what are the symptoms?
You can catch the norovirus through smear infection but also through droplet infection. This means you either pick it up with your hands or you inhale it. The symptoms usually appear just a few hours after infection. Nausea, headaches, severe vomiting, and watery diarrhea are the most common characteristics of the norovirus. The whole thing usually lasts 10 to 70 hours, after which you have usually overcome it.
What does the norovirus do to the body?
The norovirus pathogens reach the intestine from the gastrointestinal tract and penetrate the cells there, where the viruses multiply. As a result, the cells in the intestine are damaged and die off. The consequence is that water can no longer be extracted from food, which means the fluid ends up directly in the intestine. This is how diarrhea occurs. The body naturally tries to get rid of the virus and reacts with vomiting. Even after the symptoms have subsided, the virus is still transmissible for up to 48 hours afterwards and it is still excreted in the stool for about 6 to 14 days after the illness.
How is the norovirus treated and how can it be prevented?
There is no real treatment. The doctor can slightly alleviate the symptoms and abdominal cramps with medication. In addition, they will provide infusions if there is excessive fluid loss. The most important thing is bed rest and avoiding other people, as well as drinking a lot of fluids!!! You must definitely try to compensate for the water loss. To avoid losing all your strength, light food such as rusks is recommended.
To avoid infecting anyone else and to avoid getting infected yourself, hygiene is the top priority. After visiting the toilet, you should wash your hands thoroughly, and if you are ill, disinfect them. Anyone visiting public facilities should try not to touch their face with their hands and wash their hands before touching food. Anyone who strictly adheres to hygiene during times when the norovirus is prevalent should get through the period largely unscathed.
Read also: Home remedy – Apple cider vinegar for mild diarrhea
Photo by Janine, meinhaushalt.at
1 comment
Comments are closed.