An urgent warning about norovirus has been issued by a doctor who who says it is spreading rapidly. It comes as cases in England are currently more than double the expected number for this time of year, the UK Health Security Agency has said.
Dr Neena Chandrasekaran, an expert in the field of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, shared her advice on TikTok. The expert, who has the social media username @neenziemd, said ‘norovirus is spreading rapidly’.
Calling it the vomiting bug, the NHS say that this is a “stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant, but usually gets better in about 2 days.”
The doctor notes often people will “feel gastroenteritis like symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.” You may also have:
- tummy pain
- body pain and aches
- a high temperature
- a headache
Dr Neena explains: “You can get this, just by touching someone that’s infected, by being around someone, by sharing the same food and handling the same objects. Some uncooked meats and seafood can also do this.”
She stresses the importance of a critical 36-hour window. “Symptoms can appear within 24 to 36 hours of exposure to an affected person,” she explains.
Encouraging people to take proper precautions, she advises if you’re around people to have this, you need to “wash your hands” adding: “Unfortunately there are no cures for this at this time. It is just supportive care.”
Discussing “one of the biggest concerns”, the health guru reveals that being infected with this virus could “lead to lactose intolerance and Irritable Bowel Syndrome and for some people these symptoms have persisted. Always remember to wash your hands and be cautious,” she concludes.
NHS 48 hour warning
If you have the norovirus, the NHS warns: “do not go to school, nursery or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for 2 days.” They also caution that yo should “not visit others in hospitals or places like care homes until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for 2 days.”
Call 111 if you…
- you’re worried about a baby under 12 months
- your child stops breast or bottle feeding while they’re ill
- a child under 5 years has signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies
- you or your child (aged 5 years or over) still have signs of dehydration after using oral rehydration sachets
- you or your child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down
- you or your child have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom
- you or your child have diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days
Call 999 if you…
- vomit blood or have vomit that looks like ground coffee
- have green vomit (adults)
- have yellow-green or green vomit (children)
- may have swallowed something poisonous
- have a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights
- have a sudden, severe headache
- have a sudden, severe tummy ache
- have blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- are having severe difficulty breathing, or taking lots of quick, short breaths
- are confused or not responding as usual