7 Common Norovirus Symptoms

Norovirus is a type of viral infection which causes acute infection of the stomach and large intestines. Other common names for Norovirus infection are stomach flu, winter vomiting bug (in U.K) and food poisoning.

Norovirus infection is caused mainly due to consumption of foodstuff or liquids contaminated by this virus.The symptoms of the norovirus infection appear after two to three days of the person being infected and usually lasts for 3-4 days. The norovirus infection is not life threatening and often the virus passes out of the body through stools.

Norovirus infection is highly contagious and even a very small amount of this virus is sufficient to cause infection. However, some people infected with Norovirus may not be troubled with any symptoms associated with this infection due to a natural inbuilt immunity against norovirus infection. There is no set treatment for norovirus infection, except keeping the patient hydrated with lots of fluid.

Symptoms Of Norovirus Infection

Nausea And Vomiting

Sensation of nausea is among the first symptoms that the people infected with norovirus infection experience. The intensity of nausea depends upon the degree of infection.

If the person is highly infected with the nororvirus infection than he/she may also experience vomiting. Patients also often feel very thirsty, even though they are unable to retain water. Children infected with this infection often have prolonged bouts of vomiting.

Diarrhea

Frequent passing of watery stools or diarrhea, is yet another common symptom exhibited by the patients of norovirus infection. Due to passing of loose and watery stools frequently, the patients often suffer from loss of fluid from the body or dehydration. It is advised that the patients be given lots of fluids to prevent the body from dehydrating.

Stomach Ache And Cramps

Patients having norovirus infection often complain of pain in the stomach, which is a source of great discomfort to them.

Stomach ache is subsequently followed with mild to acute cramps in the abdomen. The intensity of abdominal pain and cramps may range from being mild to severe in nature, depending upon the extent of the infection in the body.

Fever And Chills

People infected with norovirus also suffer from low grade fever which is often accompanied by shivering and chills. Babies and children affected with norovirus often may have high grade fever.

Body Ache And Headache

Patients of norovirus complain of pain in the head and a general weakness in the body. They also experience stiffness and muscle pain. People infected with norovirus infection have an overall body ache and a general feeling of ill being.

Tiredness

Symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, fever, body ache etc makes the patient overall weak and tired. They experience extreme fatigue and are forced to remain in bed for long durations during the entire course of the infection.

Weight Loss

General weight loss is yet another symptom exhibited by the people suffering from norovirus. However the overall weight loss is not very significant in adults, but in the case of babies and children it may be a cause for worry.