Norovirus – dubbed the ‘winter vomiting bug’ – causes a host of unpleasant symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhoea as well as others that differentiate it from the flu
As cases of norovirus continue to rise across the UK this winter, it’s important to know if you’ve been struck down with the contagious illness.
Dubbed the “winter vomiting bug”, norovirus causes a host of unpleasant symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhoea, and according to GOV.UK, Brits are currently seeing the highest number of cases since the government’s reporting on the bug first started. It comes amid panic in hospitals, with one boss warning norovirus “can rip through wards like wildfire”.
The major London hospital was forced to close three wards due to the sickness bug – just a day after NHS England said hospitals are “almost full” amid a surge in norovirus and other winter viruses – including RSV, coronavirus and the flu. Norovirus symptoms usually start suddenly, within 1 to 2 days of being infected, and you can usually treat yourself or your child at home.
Five key symptoms of norovirus
The main symptoms of norovirus are:
- Feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting)
- Diarrhoea
- High temperature
- Headache
- Aching arms and legs
According to the NHS, the best thing to do if you fall ill with norovirus is to rest and have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration, and you will usually start to feel better in 2 to 3 days.
Vulnerable groups, including the very young, elderly or immunocompromised people, are more at risk of severe or prolonged illness and may need to seek medical treatment. It’s vital to stay off school or work until at least two days have passed where you have not been sick or had diarrhoea.
Those struck down with norovirus should also not prepare food for others during that tine, as this is when you’re most infectious. The illness varies to the flu, which is a seperate viral infection affecting the nose, throat, and lungs. It is far worse than an ordinary cold, which usually causes a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Symptoms of a cold usually occur gradually without causing a fever or body aches, which usually occur with flu.
Flu can lead to serious illness, especially in children, with more than 8,000 hospitalisations last winter. Older people, those with a weakened immune system, and people with long-term health conditions are at higher risk.
