Norovirus: Symptoms and treatment
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting.
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Symptoms of norovirus
When you’re infected with norovirus, symptoms may start as soon as 12 hours after exposure. Most people feel better within 2 to 3 days.
The main symptoms include:
- nausea
- diarrhea
- stomach pain and cramps
- vomiting (children usually experience more vomiting than adults)
You may also experience:
- chills
- fatigue
- headache
- muscle aches
- low-grade fever
If you become ill
If you think you have norovirus, contact your health care provider.
Norovirus can make you vomit and have diarrhea several times a day. This can lead to dehydration (loss of fluids). Drink plenty of liquids to replace lost fluids. If you have a severe case, you may need to be admitted to hospital and given fluids intravenously (through a needle inserted in a vein).
Diagnosing norovirus
Your health care provider can diagnose norovirus infections. They might take a sample of your stool or vomit for laboratory testing.