Norovirus

NHS Kirklees takes preventing, minimising and controlling the risk of healthcare associated infection to patients, staff, visitors and carers very seriously.  Over the coming months we will be having a regular bug of the season feature to give you more information about infections you might have heard of and what you can do to prevent them.

What is Norovirus?
Norovirus is one of the most frequent causes of diarrhoea and vomiting and is also referred to as the ‘winter vomiting disease’.  This is the time of the year where viral gastroenteritis readily spreads through the community and numerous outbreaks of Norovirus occur. 

Symptoms
Symptoms begin around 12-18 hours after exposure to the virus and usually start with nausea and vomiting, which may be projectile, followed by diarrhoea.

Some additional symptoms may include:

• headaches
• aches and pains
• a temperature.

Norovirus is normally a short lived, relatively mild illness and people tend to recover after one or two days. 

How is it spread?
It can be spread easily from person to person by

• eating contaminated food
• drinking contaminated water
• contact with objects, hands and surfaces which have been contaminated by diarrhoea or vomit.

Prevention and control
The best way to respond to an outbreak of Norovirus is to:

• close the premises
• disinfect contaminated areas
• make sure good hygiene measures are in place e.g. hand washing and food handling.

Treatment
People with the condition should stay at home, maintain good personal hygiene, particularly hand washing, and avoid contact with others where possible.

To help you recover you should:

• drink plenty of fluids – whatever you can tolerate e.g. water, juice, tea, flat pop. Try to have the equivalent of five mugs / glasses per day
• try to drink a cup / glass every hour and if you are having trouble remembering, ask a friend or family member to call and remind you
  drink through a straw if you have one – this can help if you feel sick, or try sucking an ice cube
• if you feel up to it, try a little plain food e.g. toast or a biscuit
• do not take medicines that stop diarrhoea (e.g. Loperamide) as this may delay your recovery.

Get in touch with NHS Direct on 0845 4647 if you are feeling drowsy, disorientated or have not been to the toilet to pass urine three times during the day or if the condition persists.

Choose Well

For most people, winter vomiting doesn't normally require anything other than plenty of fluids and a spell of time at home.  It certainly doesn't require hospital treatment or a visit to the A & E Department.  
People suffering from viral gastroenteritis must not visit friends or relatives in hospitals, residential or nursing homes until they are symptom free for 48 hours.

During the winter months all NHS services see an increase in the number of people wishing to access them.  In order to help yourself and your NHS services, trusts across West Yorkshire are advising people to “Stop, think and make sure you Choose Well” when it comes to accessing the right NHS service at the right time.

Visit the Choose Well (link to these here) pages to make sure that you make the right choice about where to go for health advice or treatment. 

STOP, THINK and make sure that you CHOOSE WELL to get the right care at the right time. 

If you have any concerns or need more advice about anything to do with infection control contact the NHS Kirklees Infection Control Team on 01924 512159.