Children with diarrhea and vomiting, beware of norovirus! Please keep this prevention guide

As the temperature drops, the Norovirus also enters its peak season. Xu Lin, deputy chief physician of the Pediatrics Department of Hunan Provincial Second People's Hospital , reminds us that the Norovirus, a seemingly inconspicuous little guy, is actually a highly contagious virus, especially in the autumn and winter seasons, when it is more likely to spread among the crowd.

‌1. Understanding Norovirus‌

Norovirus, also known as Norwalk virus, is the prototype representative strain of the Norovirus genus in the human Caliciviridae family. It is a group of virus particles with similar morphology and slightly different antigenicity, and is one of the common pathogens that cause acute gastroenteritis.

Norovirus has the characteristics of low infection dose, long detoxification time, and strong resistance to the external environment. It can easily cause gastroenteritis outbreaks in relatively closed environments such as schools and kindergartens.

2. Symptoms of Norovirus

1. The incubation period is usually 24 to 48 hours, with the shortest being 12 hours and the longest being 72 hours.

2. The infection occurs suddenly, with the main symptoms being nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

3. Vomiting is common among children, while diarrhea is the most common complaint among adults. Diarrhea may occur more than three times within 24 hours, and the stools are watery or watery, without mucus, pus or blood.

4. A few cases may develop into severe illness, and severe cases may even lead to death from dehydration, which is more common in young children and elderly people.

‌3. Why is the disease more common in autumn and winter? ‌

1. Temperature drops

As the temperature gradually drops in autumn and winter, children tend to stay indoors, which increases the chance of contact and provides a breeding ground for the spread of the virus.

2. Crowds

Students gather in large numbers on campus, and close contact makes the virus spread more quickly.

3. Dry environment

Dry air allows virus particles to remain suspended in the air longer, increasing the risk of infection.

4. Decreased immunity

When seasons change, the immunity of some people will decrease, making them more vulnerable to viruses.

‌4. How to prevent Norovirus infection? ‌

1. Improve personal hygiene

Maintaining good hand hygiene is the key to preventing norovirus infection. Wash your hands carefully with soap and running water for at least 30 seconds before meals, after defecation, and after going out. Avoid touching your mouth, nose, eyes, etc. with your hands.

2. Pay attention to food safety

Do not drink raw water, and cook food thoroughly before eating. Especially high-risk foods such as seafood must be cooked thoroughly. Fruits and vegetables must be washed and peeled before eating.

3. Keep the environment clean

Open windows regularly to ventilate and keep indoor air flowing. Patients' vomitus, feces and other pollutants should be cleaned and disinfected with chlorine-containing disinfectants in a timely manner.

4. Reduce crowd gatherings

During the peak season of Norovirus, try to avoid going to crowded and poorly ventilated places, such as shopping malls, cinemas, etc.

5. Countermeasures after infection

If you are unfortunately infected with norovirus, don't panic too much. Norovirus gastroenteritis is a self-limiting disease. Most patients have mild symptoms after onset and do not need special treatment. They can recover after resting for 2-3 days.

During this period, it is important to replenish water and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. For infants, young children, and children with underlying diseases, if severe symptoms occur, they should seek medical treatment in a timely manner.

In short, it is now the peak season for norovirus, but as long as we take preventive measures, we can effectively reduce the risk of infection.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Tang Qiong, Pediatrics, Hunan Second People's Hospital

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(Edited by YT)