What to do if you develop Norovirus Symptoms

(Note from Stephanie Lueras, Founder/CEO of Heart and Sole Fitness & Wellness: This is a guest article, not authored by me. Facts and claims are the responsibility of the author, Jamie Winn/Universal Drugstore, but I’m definitely not undermining the importance of this valuable information. Not to be taken as individual medical advice, seek assistance from a medical provider for further care.)

With an estimated 20 million people getting sick from norovirus each year¹, medical experts share what to do if you catch it.

Jamie Winn PharmD, Medical Director at Universal Drugstore, commented: “Norovirus is a highly contagious virus which leads to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, causing unpleasant symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea. While you can catch Norovirus at any point throughout the year, there is often a spike in infections during the winter months due to the increase in time spent indoors, in closer proximity to more people. This, alongside our weakened immune systems in the winter, can lead to an increase in transmissions of the virus and a spike in infection.

“Once coming into contact with the virus it can take anywhere from twelve hours to two days for symptoms to develop, and lasts an average of three days for the majority of healthy adults. Norovirus can be unpleasant, but there are some tips you can follow to prevent the worsening of symptoms.”

What to do if you have Norovirus:

Isolate: the most important thing you can do when you contract Norovirus is isolated. Due to how contagious the virus is you should isolate yourself and stay off work and school until you have a full 24 hours without any symptoms. This will prevent you from transmitting it to anyone else.
Stay hydrated: the main symptoms of Norovirus are severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which means that you lose fluids at an extreme rate. For this reason, making sure you are drinking enough water is vital so as to replace electrolytes and fluids, keeping dehydration at bay. Oral rehydration solutions are a good way to manage this. We recommend taking small sips of water every 10 minutes or so to see if your stomach can handle it because drinking too much too quickly will lead to further vomiting. If you find yourself able to keep down little sips, gradually increase how often you take them.
Rest: symptoms of Norovirus last roughly three days for most adults and while the only treatment for the virus is to let it run its course, resting will not only help you feel more energised once the symptoms have eased, but I can also prevent symptoms such as dehydration from worsening.
Maintain good hygiene: make sure to regularly wash your hands and wipe down any surfaces you come into contact with to remove any germs and reduce the risk of further transmission. This is especially important if you share a house with other people and use communal areas.
Avoid certain foods: Stick to bland, plain food such as dry toast or crackers and avoid spicy, greasy and dairy-based products as these can exacerbate digestive discomfort. You may find that you have no appetite at all during the first 24 hours, so really focus on keeping down enough fluid.
Painkillers: if you develop a fever take some anti-fever medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help ease the discomfort.
Seek medical attention: most norovirus cases do not require medical attention, and due to how contagious the virus is you should refrain from going to the hospital or the doctor. However, if you are becoming severely dehydrated, cannot drink any fluids or have a high temperature for an extended period of time it is important to seek medical attention as the virus may be affecting you more severely. Norovirus also affects the elderly, young children and those with an underlying health condition more than the average adult, so make sure to monitor the symptoms closely and be ready to seek medical help if they worsen.