Norovirus gastroenteritis is a high incidence of infectious diseases in schools in spring.
Since vomiting is the most common symptom of norovirus gastroenteritis, it is also known as “winter vomiting sickness”.
Dr. Kang’s Interpretation
How is norovirus acute gastroenteritis transmitted?
What are the clinical manifestations after infection?
And how to prevent it?
Now I’m going to give you some general knowledge about it.
What is norovirus?
Norovirus was originally known as Norwalk virus.
The virus spreads easily from person to person.
Immune protection from norovirus infection in humans is short-lived, so the same person can be reinfected with the same strain or with different norovirus types.
Norovirus infection can occur throughout the year, with peak norovirus season from October to March of the following year.
The main symptoms
The incubation period for norovirus infection is usually 24-48 hours.
The most common symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea, followed by nausea, abdominal pain, headache, fever, chills and muscle aches.
Vomiting was the main disease in children and diarrhea was the main disease in adults.
infection
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that is mainly transmitted by the faecal-oral route.
How is it treated?
Patients do not need to take antibiotics, but should be hydrated to prevent dehydration.
Taking oral rehydration salts (ORS) can help patients rehydrate and balance electrolytes.
Seek medical attention if symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea are severe.
How to prevent it?
Dr. Kang’s Interpretation
At present, there is no specific antiviral drug and vaccine for norovirus, and the prevention and control of norovirus mainly adopts non-pharmaceutical preventive measures.
1
Maintaining good hand hygiene is the most important and effective measure to prevent norovirus infection and control the spread of norovirus.
2
If a family member is infected with norovirus, they should try not to come into close contact with other healthy family members, especially not to cook or care for the elderly or infants.
3
Wash fruits and vegetables carefully and cook food properly, especially if you eat shellfish and seafood that are at high risk of getting norovirus.
4
It is best for patients with norovirus gastroenteritis to be actively isolated at home until 2 days after the complete disappearance of symptoms (because there is still a small amount of detoxification after the complete disappearance of symptoms).
5
When norovirus gastroenteritis aggregates or outbreaks occur, comprehensive disinfection should be done, focusing on the disinfection of environmental surfaces, articles for daily use, food processing tools and drinking water contaminated by pollutants such as vomit and feces of patients. Chlorine-containing disinfectants are the most commonly used.
How does patient vomit, feces disinfect?
Use gauze, cloth and other disposable absorbent materials stained with chlorine-containing disinfectant (effective chlorine concentration is 5000mg/L ~ 10000mg/L) to completely cover the contaminants and carefully remove them.
The cleaned pollutants are disposed of as medical waste, or soaked in disinfectant containing 5000mg/L effective chlorine for 30min before treatment.
A sufficient amount of chlorine-containing disinfectant can be poured into the toilet (effective chlorine concentration is 5000mg/L ~ 10000mg/L) for more than 30min.
Mops, rags and other tools used in cleaning as well as containers containing pollutants must be soaked with disinfectant containing 5000mg/L effective chlorine for 30min and thoroughly washed before being used again.
Collective units to clean the toilet and toilet mops should be dedicated.