gastroenteritis ( Norwalk virus )
Last reviewed 01/2018
- 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
- investigations are rarely necessary because illness resolves spontaneously
after about 48 hours
Reference:
- GP magazine (17/11/03), 57.