Norovirus is the leading cause of illness from contaminated food in the U.S., and approximately 685 million cases are reported globally each year. Of that estimate, over 200 million cases affect children.  

Norovirus is a group of viruses that cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. It is very common and highly contagious.  

Most norovirus outbreaks occur between November and April in countries above the equator and between April and September in countries below the equator. 

A virus in the Caliciviridae family causes norovirus. When the virus enters your body, it causes your stomach and intestines to swell or become inflamed. This is called acute gastroenteritis, which typically presents with norovirus-like symptoms. Symptoms of norovirus include: 

• Nausea 

• Watery or loose diarrhea 

• Vomiting 

• Stomach pain 

• Headache 

• Fever 

• Body aches 

Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and last one to three days. However, symptoms of the infection may last longer in the elderly, young children, and those who are immunocompromised.  

These groups are especially at risk of longer norovirus infections, as the virus can still be present in their stool, which causes chronic norovirus diarrhea and other severe complications.  

Norovirus infection, like other gastrointestinal pathogens, can cause a range of sequelae, a condition that is the consequence of a previous disease or injury, and complications. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, there has been some evidence linking norovirus infections to sequelae, including post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study analyzed an outbreak of severe gastroenteritis attributed to foodborne human norovirus (HNoV), which showed that the prevalence of IBS was significantly higher in subjects who had experienced acute gastroenteritis than in control subjects.  

Another study that followed individuals from a massive outbreak of viral gastroenteritis also suggests that HNoV gastroenteritis can lead to the development of post-infectious IBS in a substantial proportion of patients.  

In addition to the two previous studies, another study presented that the risk of dyspepsia, constipation, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was higher among those who had acute gastroenteritis during a confirmed norovirus outbreak. This study suggests that dysmotility, a condition in which the muscles and/or nerves of the digestive system do not work as they should, may result in subsequent infections. It is important to note that these findings have not been confirmed.  

The norovirus is extremely difficult to kill as it can’t easily be washed away and can survive temperatures up to 145°F. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing hands vigorously with soap, cleaning any infected areas with diluted bleach, and washing infected clothes with hot water and detergent. The CDC also recommends wearing gloves and throwing them out after cleaning, which adds to your protection. 

There are also many precautions you can take to reduce the risk of getting norovirus, including: 

• Washing fruits and vegetables before eating them 

• Cooking your food thoroughly (especially seafood or shellfish) or to an appropriate temperature 

• Avoiding contact with people who are infected with norovirus 

Please note that using hand sanitizer doesn’t kill norovirus particles as effectively as washing your hands with soap and water. If you are infected with norovirus, you shouldn’t prepare food or care for others, as you can spread the infection. 

If you experience vomiting, diarrhea, or other symptoms of norovirus, schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center as soon as possible by calling (718) 670-5486. 

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.