Norovirus Sympthom and how to prevent
Beware if you experience frequent abdominal pain. It could
be that you have been infected with norovirus virus. Norovirus is also called
Norwalk-like viruses and Calici viruses.
The virus can cause gastroenteritis, food infection, food poisoning, and acute
nonbacterial gastroenteritis.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), a new strain of norovirus in Australia is now the leading
cause of norovirus outbreaks of the country.
The virus causes gastroenteritis (a disease that attacks the
stomach and intestinal tract), which makes the sufferer becomes nausea,
abdominal cramps, and diarrhea, called Sydney GII.4.
The CDC estimates that norovirus causes 21 million illnesses
annually. Norovirus also contributes to 70,000 people are hospitalized and 800
people died in the United States. Illness caused by norovirus to be the most
severe for children, the elderly, and people who already had the disease
before.
"Every few years a new strain going around. As far as
we know, too early to say whether it would be a norovirus worse than you see
every year," said Todd Reynolds, MD, a family medicine practitioner at Previa
Health, as quoted from the Women's Health, Monday
The virus of the norovirus spreads quickly from person to
person. Especially, in crowded places were closed, such as schools, hotels,
public transportation, and daycare. In fact, contaminated by norovirus means the surface has been exposed to
particles of vomit or diarrhea.
These particles do not have to be big, like the rest of
microscopic particles in the hands of someone that can cause serious illness.
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine or drug to prevent or treat norovirus
infection. The plus side, the disease is not until more than 72 hours. However,
during the 72 hours may someone be miserable and even his life could be
threatened.
Although there is no
way to prevent the virus, there are precautions that can be done.
1. Wash your hands
Reynolds recommends that you rinse your hands with soap and
water above body temperature that can kill the bacteria for 30 seconds. Alcohol
hand sanitizers can also be used while it is in transit. And where possible,
reduce the intensity of touching the face and hair. Whatever you have to do to
minimize the infection of the virus.
2. Scrub all surfaces contaminated
CDC recommends using a solution of chlorine bleach to clean
areas that are infected. Wear gloves to prevent your skin from cracking.
3. Throw the contaminated clothes in the
laundry
Every part of your virus contaminated clothing must be
cleaned. Wash with detergent at the maximum engine rotations and dry in the
machine.
4. Wash and cook food properly
Norovirus can sometimes survive up to a temperature of 140
degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, wash and cook your food properly to reduce viral
particles left behind. Throw away any food that is suspicious. As well as keep
your children from pre-prepared meals. Because children are the main cause of
the spread of the virus