-Norovirus causes gastroenteritis. A person usually develops symptoms of gastroenteritis 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. Symptoms are: acute-onset of nausea and vomiting, watery, non-bloody diarrhea with abdominal cramps. Some people may have a low-grade fever, headaches, and myalgias (body aches).
-due to waterborne or foodborne spread.
-Fecal-oral route and transmitted through contaminated food and water.
– In the U.S, these viruses are responsible for about 90% of all epidemics of nonbacterial gastroenteritis.
– The noroviruses are common causes of waterborne epidemics of gastroenteritis and have been shown to be responsible for outbreaks in nursing homes, on cruise ships, at summer camps, and in schools.
– Tx is usually symptomatic alone. Treat nausea. Rehydrate. In severe cases, IV fluids. May consider antimotility agents? (CDC below).
Reference
N Engl J Med 2009;361(18):1776-1785.
https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/hcp/clinical-overview.html
https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/hcp/diagnosis-treatment.html