A genus of non-enveloped, capsid covered viruses with T=3 icosahedral symmetry, in the family Caliciviridae. The genome is composed of a linear, single-strand of positive sense RNA. Noroviruses are transmitted by the fecal-oral route and cause gastroenteritis in humans.
Symptoms of Norovirus infection
The following features are indicative of Norovirus infection:
diarrhea
abdominal pain
vomiting
headache
fever
chills
nausea
occasional muscle aches
headache
low-grade fever
It is possible that Norovirus infection shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Norovirus infection
The following are the most common causes of Norovirus infection:
contaminated food
contaminated water
Risk Factors for Norovirus infection
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Norovirus infection:
young children
older adults
weakened immune system
contaminated food
contaminated water
Prevention of Norovirus infection
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Norovirus infection. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
wash hands after using the toilet or changing a diaper
avoid sharing eating utensils, glasses and plates
use separate towels in the bathroom
avoid close contact with anyone who has the virus
avoid contaminated food and water
Occurrence of Norovirus infection
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Norovirus infection cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Norovirus infection can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Norovirus infection can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Norovirus infection
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Norovirus infection:
Stool test: To detect the presence of virus in the stool
Doctor for Diagnosis of Norovirus infection
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Norovirus infection:
Infectious disease specialist
Complications of Norovirus infection if untreated
Yes, Norovirus infection causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Norovirus infection is left untreated:
dehydration
can be fatal
Self-care for Norovirus infection
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Norovirus infection:
Keep Hydrated: Drink plenty of liquids to maintain the body hydrated
Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks: Helps in reducing the chances of dehydration
Maintain hygiene: To avoid the chances of infection
Time for Treatment of Norovirus infection
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Norovirus infection to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
Within 1 week
Is Norovirus infection Infectious?
Yes, Norovirus infection is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
direct contact with the infected person
spread through contaminated food or water
Last updated date
This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Norovirus infection.
