No one wants to catch a virus, but one of the nastiest, in terms of the yuk factor, is norovirus. Its trifecta of lousy symptoms—vomiting, diarrhea and nausea—puts it in the Avoid-At-All-Costs category.
The bad news is that norovirus is spreading across the country, no doubt spurred by holiday travel and visiting. So, what should we do to avoid it? Here’s advice from Cleveland Clinic Dr. Donald Dumford, an infectious disease specialist:
-Marie Elium
Norovirus is a small virus that is known to cause outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Norovirus is highly contagious, which is why we often see outbreaks in places where people are in close proximity, like holiday parties. It’s also more common in the colder months. Norovirus is typically spread through food and beverage contamination, touching contaminated surfaces, or being near someone who is sick.
To help prevent the virus from making its way into your home, be sure to regularly wash your hands. You should also sanitize all high-touch areas, like countertops, doorknobs and light switches. The same advice applies if you’re already sick.
With norovirus, there are no treatment options. It just takes time to get better; usually, symptoms will resolve completely within 72 hours.
If you are worried about spreading a gastrointestinal illness, be overly cautious about washing your hands, not preparing food for others while sick, and trying to keep yourself isolated as much as possible to make sure that you’re not exposing other people during your contagious period.
If you do wind up getting norovirus, it’s important to drink lots of water; otherwise, you could risk dehydration. If your symptoms become severe, seek medical attention.
Learn more at my.clevelandclinic.org
