Norovirus, spiking in the U.S., now appearing in Pittsburgh

Norovirus is going around this winter. The stomach bug leads to two to three days of vomiting followed by two to three days of diarrhea — which could last up to two weeks. If that doesn’t sound like your idea of a fun Saturday night, here’s what to know and how to stay safe.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that spreads through oral-fecal transmission, meaning you are most likely to get it by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your mouth. You can also get norovirus from consuming contaminated food or water.

The virus is referred to as “winter vomiting” disease — cases surge every year in February and March, but the virus circulates all year. Anyone can get sick from norovirus, and symptoms tend to arise one or two days after exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying home two days after symptoms stop due to how transmissible norovirus is. People typically recover after three days.

How to prevent norovirus

“This is where good hand- washing and not touching your face can help reduce the spread” of norovirus, said Dr. Joseph Aracri, chair of Allegheny Health Network Pediatric Institute. It’s important to keep your hands clean because of how this virus spreads.

“Take a bath in hand sanitizer,” joked Dr. Aracri. Keeping a travelsize hand sanitizer containing at least 60% ethanol in your car or purse is one way to keep hands clean on the go. Dr. Aracri said the virus can survive on surfaces for four to six weeks.

The CDC also recommends washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly to reduce the risk of contamination.

What to do if you get sick

Stay home when you are sick, get lots of rest, and most crucially, stay hydrated. The BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) is easy on the stomach, but Dr. Aracri said a sick person need not exclusively stick to these four foods.

People who are vomiting should avoid food and drink that are excessively sugary or fatty, such as fruit juice. Gatorade should be diluted.

“Keeping up with fluids is the most important thing,” he said. “Your appetite will come back eventually.”

He recommended a technique called oral rehydration therapy — especially for sick children — which reintroduces fluids over a long period to reduce dehydration:

After a vomiting episode, let the stomach rest for an hour. Do not consume any liquids.

Then give one-half ounce to one ounce of liquid every 20 minutes for two hours.

If people tolerate this without vomiting, they can drink more.

Signs of dehydration

Excessive vomiting and diarrhea puts a person at higher risk for dehydration, a danger because electrolytes that are in fluids carry electrical signals throughout the body and help organs to function. Here are the signs:

• Dry mouth

• Not being able to cry tears

• Less frequent urination (a person should urinate at least once every six to eight hours)

• Looking pale, sunken or exhausted

In children:

• A dry diaper for three hours or longer

• Fussiness or irritability Dr. Aracri said norovirus sickness usually can be managed over the phone. Call your primary health care provider if you are sick, and especially if you have a bloody stool or if diarrhea does not abate after several days.