Don't panic when Norovirus strikes! Changsha Fourth Hospital teaches you how to prevent it scientifically

"I don't even know how I got infected!" Norovirus has frequently caused heated discussions in recent times, and many infected people said that they didn't even know when they were infected.

Recently, Mr. Li suddenly felt a severe abdominal pain, followed by frequent trips to the toilet. At first, he thought it was just because he had eaten too much greasy food the night before, and he would be fine after a rest.

However, as the day went by, his symptoms not only did not ease, but became more severe. Nausea, vomiting and persistent diarrhea made Mr. Li miserable.

Only then did Mr. Li realize the seriousness of the problem and rushed to the hospital for treatment.

At the emergency center of Changsha Fourth Hospital , the doctor found that Mr. Li was infected with the norovirus. Hearing this result, Mr. Li was surprised: "I thought the norovirus only affects children, and no one around me was infected with the virus, so how come I was infected?"

Huang Yan, director of the Emergency and Rescue Center and chief physician of Changsha Fourth Hospital , explained that in fact, norovirus is not an exclusive "enemy" of children. It is a highly contagious pathogen,** which is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route, food, water and contact.** For this reason, the transmission routes of norovirus are very diverse, from eating to drinking to touching, and there are potential risk points everywhere.

You may not know it, but everyday objects that are contaminated with vomit or feces—door handles, toys, and even public restroom fixtures—can spread norovirus.

There is no doubt that the transmission ability of Norovirus is strong enough to be comparable to airborne viruses such as measles and chickenpox. It can infect a large number of people in a short period of time, especially in closed environments such as schools, hospitals, cruise ships, and restaurants.

Therefore, whether children or adults, as long as they come into contact with contaminated food or water, they may become victims of it. The main symptoms of Norovirus infection include nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Children mainly suffer from vomiting, while adults are more likely to suffer from diarrhea.

To prevent Norovirus, you must:

Wash your hands frequently - alcohol is ineffective, soap + running water is the key!

Environmental disinfection - chlorine-containing disinfectants must be used!

Food safety - seafood must be cooked!

You still need to take precautions after the symptoms disappear!

Strengthen ventilation: In closed or semi-closed environments, especially public toilets, ventilation should be carried out regularly.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Li Qing and Feng Xi from Changsha Fourth Hospital

Follow @湖南医聊 to get more health science information!

(Edited by ZS)