With usually high cases of the "stomach bug" this year, these are the norovirus symptoms you need to be aware of, including the unexpected ones,

Vomiting and Diarrhea Aren’t the Only Norovirus Symptoms—Here Are Other Signs to Look Out For

With usually high cases of the "stomach bug" this year, these are the norovirus symptoms you need to be aware of, including the unexpected ones,

• Norovirus, also called the "stomach bug," is known to cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea—but those aren't the only symptoms.
• People with norovirus may also feel symptoms common of viral infections, such as fever, headache, and fatigue.
• Experts share the symptoms of norovirus to look out for, including the unexpected ones, and what to do if you get sick.

You’re right to associate norovirus—also referred to as the “stomach bug”—with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. But don't be surprised if you feel other symptoms too, experts said.

Norovirus cases have been unusually high this year, and the numbers have yet to slow. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 426 norovirus outbreaks in the 14 states participating in the NoroSTAT Surveillance Network in December, and the first two weeks of January saw 225 outbreaks.

By comparison, among the 12 states participating in NoroSTAT during 2012–2020, the highest number of outbreaks in a year equaled 275 in December and 158 in the first two weeks of January.

But while you might know someone who’s had norovirus, their symptoms may not be the best indicator of what your symptoms could look like with the virus.

“It really can vary by person. That’s the thing about all viral infections,” Amy Edwards, MD, physician in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and associate medical director for Pediatric Infection Control at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, told Health. “Two people can have the exact same virus and present with slightly different manifestations.”

Here are all the potential symptoms of norovirus—including the slightly unexpected ones—plus what you should do if you get sick.

Norovirus Symptoms

Nearly everyone with norovirus will have nausea, and typically, that nausea is accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, said Shira Doron, MD, chief infection control officer for Tufts Medicine and hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center.

Some people may only have one or the other, but most norovirus patients will experience both diarrhea and vomiting, Edwards said.

People may also have a fever, Shira told Health, which could be accompanied by chills. Although, Shira estimates that less than half of norovirus patients get a fever.

Though not talked about quite as much, fatigue, headache, and body aches are also possible symptoms of norovirus, Edwards said. These symptoms, along with fever and chills, are typical of viral infections. “When our immune system has to turn itself on to deal with an invasion, you’re always at risk for those viral symptoms,” Edwards explained.

It’s also possible to show no symptoms at all. The symptoms you experience—and their severity—are dependent on your immune system and the environment you’re in, Edwards said.

The viral load, or how much of the virus you have in your body, also plays a role. “Higher viral loads are more often associated with symptomatic disease or more severe disease,” Edwards said.

How to Treat Norovirus

Unfortunately, there’s really no way to speed up the healing process for norovirus, experts said.

However, “the good news about norovirus is that it tends to be very short-lived,” Geeta Sood, MD, ScM, assistant professor of medicine and hospital epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, told Health.

Most norovirus patients will feel better in two days without medical treatment. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and contact a healthcare provider if your symptoms last longer than three days or worsen.

It’s also important to avoid contact with others while you’re sick and thoroughly clean your home when you feel better. Norovirus is highly contagious and notoriously hard to kill, experts said. It can last on surfaces for weeks and is only killed with bleach.

Norovirus also mutates rapidly, so people usually don’t have long-lasting immunity, Sood explained. “It takes a lot of diligence,” she said, “but making sure that there’s no environmental exposures or contamination helps reduce the spread among family members.”

This story originally appeared on: Health News - Author:Jenna Anderson