Norovirus infection, commonly known as winter vomiting, is a highly infectious but short-lived illness. Most people, including the frail elderly, will normally recover from the illness without medical treatment in 12 to 60 hours.
It is the most common form of gastrointestinal illness in the UK , affecting between 600,000 and one million people every year. It can spread rapidly, particularly in environments where people live or work close together, such as hospitals, residential care homes, and schools.
Hannah Chellaswamy, NHS Sefton’s Acting Director of Public Health, said: “There is no specific treatment for norovirus infection. We recommend that people with the infection stay at home, rest and have plenty of drinks to replace lost fluids.
“If the symptoms continue or seem to be getting worse, ask for a telephone consultation with your family doctor. Don’t visit the surgery as you are likely to pass on the infection to other people who may be more vulnerable than you.”
Advice for norovirus patients is:
- Do not visit your GP surgery or hospital A and E unit. There is no treatment they can give you and you will risk infecting other vulnerable people.
- If symptoms persist, ask for a telephone consultation with your family doctor.
- Do not visit friends or relatives in hospitals or in residential care homes.
- Stay away from work or school until you have fully recovered and been free of symptoms for 48 hours
- Wash hands thoroughly and regularly at all times, but particularly after visiting the lavatory and before eating
- Do not handle or prepare food for other people until you have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours
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