A family of four was infected one after another! Many families were infected... This disease is highly contagious

"The brother vomited and the sister vomited,

Dad vomited, Mom vomited,

The whole family suffered.”

Recently, due to norovirus infection

The number of children suffering from acute gastroenteritis has increased significantly.

After the child is infected,

It is not uncommon for several members of a family to be infected one after another.

A family of four was hit one after another

Recently, 9-year-old Xiaodong (pseudonym) and his family came to the pediatric outpatient clinic of the Bund Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University.

Xiaodong vomited after dinner the day before and felt listless after vomiting.

His mother was afraid that he would be hungry after vomiting, so she made him another bowl of noodles. Xiaodong ate a few bites reluctantly and said that he really couldn't eat any more. After a while, he vomited all the noodles he had just eaten. Later, he drank a few sips of water and vomited again, until he vomited all the bitter gall.

In the middle of the night, my 6-year-old sister said she felt uncomfortable in her sleep. She didn't have time to go to the bathroom and vomited on the bed.

Xiaodong's father, who cleaned his daughter's room in the early morning, also vomited. On the way to the clinic, his mother also got sick.

The doctor inferred from the symptoms that the whole family was infected with the norovirus. Later, Xiaodong and his sister had a stool test, which confirmed that they were indeed infected with the norovirus.

Considering that Xiaodong's condition was more serious, with some dehydration and a low fever, the doctor recommended that he receive fluid rehydration. The condition of his sister and other family members was relatively mild and did not require any special treatment.

Rapid onset, infection can occur throughout the year

Norovirus is an acute gastroenteritis virus, with fecal-oral transmission being the main route of transmission. Doctors say that norovirus infection can occur throughout the year , especially in the fall and winter.

One of the characteristics of norovirus is that it is highly infectious. If vomitus is not handled promptly and properly, it is easy to form aerosol particles in the air, causing several members of a family to be infected one after another.

The incubation period of Norovirus infection is short, usually 24-48 hours, and the onset is acute. The main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea (non-bloody diarrhea). The stool is watery and free of mucus, pus or blood. Followed by abdominal pain, fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, etc.

Children often suffer from vomiting, while adults often suffer from diarrhea. Norovirus gastroenteritis is a self-limiting disease and can be cured in two or three days.

But for infants and young children, norovirus gastroenteritis can cause more serious symptoms such as dehydration.

How to treat it correctly?

There is currently no specific medicine or vaccine for Norovirus infection, and antibiotics are not needed. Its treatment mainly involves timely replenishment of water, prevention and correction of dehydration, and maintenance of water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance.

Oral rehydration salts are the first choice. Taking small amounts orally multiple times can relieve vomiting. If vomiting and diarrhea are severe, or if there are signs of dehydration such as mental depression, thirst, and decreased urine output, seek medical attention promptly and require intravenous rehydration.

In addition, children with diarrhea can use probiotics and montmorillonite powder for symptomatic treatment. During this period, the diet should be light and easy to digest, with small meals.

How should it be prevented?

1. Hand hygiene:

You should wash your hands correctly according to the 6-step hand washing method before and after meals, before processing food, and when using public facilities.

2. Food hygiene:

Do not eat raw food or drink raw water, wash fruits and vegetables, and cook food thoroughly, especially seafood.

3. Open windows for ventilation and avoid going to public places:

Pay attention to air circulation, try to avoid taking your children to crowded public places, and remind your children that if a classmate vomits in the class, they should leave the scene in time and report to the teacher to reduce the possibility of infection.

4. Do a good job of disinfection:

Chlorine-containing preparations should be used to disinfect the environment and objects contaminated by the patient's vomit or feces.

When cleaning items contaminated by vomit, plastic gloves and masks should be worn to avoid direct contact with contaminants. The patient's home environment should also be disinfected according to the guidance of medical staff to avoid transmission within the family.