This winter is turning out to be especially problematic for stomach bugs, as if the cold and flu season weren't already awful.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 495 norovirus outbreaks reported countrywide as of December 11, up from 393 outbreaks by the same period last year. In mid-January, when the season peaks, health professionals anticipate an increase in cases.
Vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms of norovirus, which is usually contracted by contaminated food or water. The fact that it usually only lasts one to three days and passes through the system is the only thing that makes it acceptable.
The following advice will help you survive the next few days if you are unfortunate enough to contract the virus:
Signs of the stomach virus
According to the Cleveland Clinic and the Minnesota Department of Health, these are signs of a norovirus infection:
Vomiting
Vomiting
cramps in the stomach
Reduced urination or dark urine
Dry mouth
Feeling frail
Feeling lightheaded
Symptoms that are less prevalent are:
A mild case of fever or chills
Headache Aches in the muscles
When an individual is ill and has contracted the virus, the symptoms usually appear all at once. Children who have the virus may cry without tears, be cranky, and feel drowsy all day.
The Minnesota Department of Health reports that symptoms begin to appear one to two days following exposure to the virus. However, symptoms may start to show about 12 hours after exposure.
While some virus-infected individuals may have unpleasant symptoms, others may not exhibit any symptoms at all. However, they are still capable of spreading the infection to other people.
According to the CDC, serious infections are more common in older adults, children under five, and those with compromised immune systems.
The CDC advises against taking antibiotics since they won't work and can promote harmful antibiotic resistance, and there are no antivirals to treat norovirus.
Resting, drinking plenty of water, and paying attention to your body are the best ways to recover from the stomach flu, according to Dr. Paul Sax, clinical head of Brigham and Women's Hospital's infectious disease section. It may entail skipping substantial meals for the majority of the day.
"If you're not ready to eat, don't force yourself to eat," advised Sax, a Harvard Medical School medical professor. It's time to start eating if you're starting to feel a little better.
Sax suggests consuming diluted juices or drinks to make up for the calorie deficit throughout the day if you're not ready for solid foods.
The CDC advises drinking lots of water because it's easy to become dehydrated when you have a stomach illness.
The BRAT diet—bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast—is what many doctors advise when it's ready to resume eating solid foods. However, Sax stated that if a patient feels their body is ready, they can eat anything they want at the end of a norovirus infection.
Alcohol tends to impede recuperation, thus he advises against it. Because norovirus can induce a transient lactose intolerance, some people also steer clear of dairy products. Lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, is deficient as a result of the infection's damage to the gut lining.
According to Sax, the virus may remain in a patient's body even after they feel well.
If you're ill, Sax advises you to keep up your good hygiene so you don't infect others.
The CDC advises washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds because hand sanitizers are ineffective against norovirus.
Unfortunately, for at least two weeks following an infection, people can continue spread the norovirus.
According to the CDC, norovirus can spread readily from person to person through sharing food, consuming or drinking liquids that have been touched by someone who has the virus, or touching contaminated surfaces and then putting unwashed fingers in your mouth.
According to Sax, contaminated food and water are the most frequent source of norovirus.
According to Sax, "raw oysters are one of the more common villains in infectious disease, and there are certain foods that are more likely to have norovirus."
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