Norovirus infection - what is it? Norovirus infection: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Recently, adults and children are increasingly suffering from intestinal infections. The main cause of their development are viruses, which are divided into several types. One of them is Norovirus. In this article, consider a disease, such as norovirus infection: what it is, the causes of the onset, symptoms, treatment methods.

General information

Noroviruses and rotoviruses are the main causative agents of intestinal infections. Initially, the differences between these viruses were not, therefore the diagnosis was unambiguous: "rotovirus infection."

In 1972, for the first time, norovirus was isolated, it happened in the USA, in the city of Norfolk (Ohio). In connection with which the first name of the virus was "Norfolk agent". In the course of genetic studies it was found that it belongs to the family Caliciviridae.

According to scientists, 90% of cases of non-bacterial enteritis throughout the world cause norovirus infection. What kind of virus is this? Let's figure it out.

The mechanism of transmission of infection

The main ways of penetration of the virus into the body are:

• Food - when using unwashed vegetables or fruits;

• Water - with the use of liquids containing the virus;

• Contact-household, when the body penetrates through the dishes, utensils, unwashed hands.

A person infected with a virus is contagious to others during the acute phase of the disease and in the next 48 hours.

Norovirus infection: symptoms of the disease

The first signs of ailment occur 24-48 hours after infection. Severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, muscle and headaches, weakness - this is how norovirus infection manifests itself. Symptoms of the disease usually pass independently after 12-72 hours. After recovery, the body develops unstable immunity to the virus - up to eight weeks. After this period of time, a person may develop a norovirus infection.

What is it and how is the disease manifested, we found out. Now let's talk about diagnostic methods and methods of treatment.

Diagnostics

There is no special need to determine the type of virus. Because the treatment of such ailments, as a rule, is the same. If it is necessary to determine norovirus, special blood tests (PFA or PCR) are performed.

Principles of treatment of the disease

In most cases, if there is a norovirus infection, treatment is not required, since this type of infection has the ability to self-limiting, and the disease passes without any complications. The main recommendation for this disease is the use of a sufficient amount of liquid to prevent dehydration of the body. To reduce severe nausea or vomiting, prescribe medications such as Prochlorperazine, Prometazine, Ondansetron. With a high degree of dehydration, intravenous fluids containing electrolytes are required, in critical situations, hospitalization of the patient is necessary.

Preventive measures

In any disease, including with such a disease as norovirus infection, treatment is always longer and more costly than preventive measures, especially for severe cases. Therefore, it is necessary to do everything possible to prevent the development of the disease.

To date, there is no vaccine for this infection. Despite the fact that noroviruses have high contagiousness, stability and long-term survival in the external environment, the prevention of norovirus infection is elementary.

The following simple recommendations should be adhered to:

1. To observe personal hygiene (wash hands with soap before cooking and eating, after going to the toilet, after returning from the street).

2. Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables, eat thermally processed foods.

3. Take safe water and drinks.

4. When swimming in swimming pools and ponds, avoid getting water into your mouth.

Additional measures

Norovirus infection - what is it? This is a very serious ailment. Therefore, if one of the members of the family becomes ill, it is necessary to carefully monitor hygiene. When caring for a patient or contact with objects surrounding him, hands should be protected with gloves, thoroughly washed with soap and treated with alcohol-containing antiseptics.

Wet treatment of all surfaces with which the patient has been contacted should be performed at least once a day. Norovirus has a high viability, so cleaning should be done with the addition of chlorine-containing disinfectants.

The dishes used by the patient, as well as all the washable items, must be boiled. Things, stained with vomit, should be immediately erased at a temperature of at least 60 º. By following these rules, it is possible to prevent further spread of infection and re-infection of people.

Norovirus infection: signs in children, treatment of disease in childhood

As you know, kids pull all the objects in their mouth. And this phenomenon is not so dangerous if it happens at home, as the child plays clean toys. But this situation can arise on the street, playground, in the sandbox and other places. In this case, of course, no one will give guarantees regarding the purity of surrounding objects. That is why a variety of intestinal diseases, including norovirus infection in children - quite a frequent phenomenon. In addition, children are often in the team (kindergartens, schools, various circles), where any infection spreads quickly enough.

What should parents do in such a situation?

First of all, the child from the early childhood must be taught to observe the rules of hygiene: wash hands often, do not take food from the floor and so on. Naturally, this will not protect the baby from the onset of infection, but will help several times reduce the risk of its development.

If there is a norovirus infection in children, the treatment has its own peculiarities, since in children the dehydration of the body occurs much faster than in adults, which can lead to death. Parents need to be extremely attentive and keep under control the state of the child. At the first symptoms of the disease, the baby should be provided with a sufficient amount of liquid. To this end, apply a fractional drink. The child is given a teaspoonful of liquid every 15 minutes. It is preferable to use such means as "Regidron", "Glucosalan", "Humana Electrolyte". If these drugs are not available, you can give and mineral water, releasing gas beforehand. The amount of fluid that a child needs to drink during the first 6-8 hours of the disease is approximately 10 ml per 1 kg of weight for infants, 50-80 ml per 1 kg of weight for children after a year.

If the child does not stop vomiting, and therefore drink it is not possible, but even so the condition of the baby worsens, immediately call an ambulance. In the hospital, experienced specialists will be provided with the necessary infusion therapy.

Dietotherapy plays an important role in intestinal infections. Therapeutic diet is a constant and important aspect of treatment at all stages of the disease. The volume and composition of food is affected by the age, weight of the child, the nature of previous diseases. Rational nutrition is very important for the speedy restoration of the intestine.

Breastfeeding should be maintained even with diarrhea. In human milk contains epithelial, insulin-like and transformable growth factors. These substances help to restore the mucous membrane of the baby's intestines more quickly. In addition, breast milk contains such anti-infective factors as lactoferrin, lysozyme, lg A, bifidum factor.

If the baby is on artificial feeding, in the acute period of the disease, you should stop using soy-based formula. As with diarrhea, the sensitivity of the baby's mucosa to the soy protein increases.

Children receiving lure, it is recommended to cook porridge on the water. You can give sour-milk products, baked apple, bananas, carrot and apple puree.

Remember!

Strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene and timely access to help in a medical institution is the main defense against intestinal diseases, especially for children.

From this article you learned more about such a disease as a norovirus infection: what it is, how it manifests itself and what the principles of treatment are. We hope that the information will be useful to you. Be healthy and take care of your children!