causes an acute gastroenteritis with watery diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and myalgia lasting 24-48 hours. Symptoms develop about 48 hours after infection with Norwalk virus. May also be abdominal cramps and low-grade fever. Patients will feel very unwell for up to 48 hours; however serious complications (and rarely death), in general, only occur if patient is debilitated by a concomitant pathology or patient is elderly and frail.
Norwalk virus named after the city in Ohio where the first identified outbreak occurred
virus is shed in vomitus and faeces. Transmission is via faecal-oral route via contaminated food, water and infected contacts
Management:
investigations are rarely necessary because illness resolves spontaneously after about 48 hours
U+Es if dehydration suspected
stool M,C,S
treatment with oral rehydration therapy is generally only intervention that is required
anti-diarrhoeal therapies are not recommended
prevention of spread - education about mode of transmission, hand washing is essential; disposal of potentially infected material
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