What is the winter vomiting bug and should we be worried?

During winter time you would expect Christmas gifts, cosy time spent by the fireplace while wearing ugly Christmas sweaters and playing Mariah Carey on repeat. However, an unwanted winter present might ruin all that, and it includes vomiting. A classic Grinch move if you ask me.

Norovirus, simply known as the winter vomiting bug, is exactly what you would not want coming out of your chimney, however, it does come out of people’s body chimneys known as our mouths. As the name suggests, the winter vomiting bug is a stomach virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

How to tell if you have norovirus?

Well, it’s fairly easy. According to NHS, while the common symptoms are vomiting and diarrhoea, it can include fever, headache and stomach cramps with the symptoms starting within 1-2 days after infection.

On the bright side, it is not as worrying as it is simply unpleasant, since it usually clears up on its own without needing medication. What you need though, is to rest and make sure you stay hydrated.

How does norovirus spread?

The main problem with norovirus is its ability to spread very fast. You can be infected by close contact with a person who already has it, by touching objects that have the virus on them and then touching your face or simply eating food that’s been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus. Guess who’s cooking in instead of taking out this winter? The correct answer is me.

As we have seen throughout the years,norovirus likes hitting cruise ships, which is an easy target with everyone cooped up together for a week or two. This is not to say that if you are not on a cruise ship you are safe, unfortunately.

How to treat it?

Unfortunately, there are no pills to treat or prevent the virus per se, as it is a virus. If it was a bacteria like E.coli, there are drugs that could be used against it. Since it is a virus, the only weapon we do have in our possession is soap. Keeping your hygiene will increase your chances of not catching this unpleasant winter visitor.

Disclaimer: The contents of this article: text, graphics, images, and other materials contained, are strictly for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Please always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with all the questions that you have related to, or about, a medical condition.

Sources used:

NHS: 'Norovirus (vomiting bug)'

NBC News: 'After months of norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships, a smoothie is finally implicated'

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