How to beat norovirus without bugging your GP

Norovirus has been in the headlines a fair bit lately - there have been hospital ward closures due to outbreaks, 300 people reportedly fell ill following a suspected eruption of the virus and cases are said to be 45% higher than this time last year

And that's only official lab reports; many more will have been struck with the dreaded 'winter vomiting bug' but not gone 'on record'.

But what exactly does it mean, and what should you do if you or your family gets norovirus? GP and media medic Dr Roger Henderson coughs up some expert advice...

It can be nasty

Norovirus can knock you for six, often starting with an achy fever and nausea, usually one to two days after exposure to the virus. Virus particles enter the body through the nose or mouth, travel to the stomach, but it's only when they hit the small intestine that they start multiplying and irritating the gut lining - then the vomiting and watery diarrhoea strikes. "This is the body saying, 'Get it out, clear it, clear it, clear it!" says Henderson.

You might have stomach cramps and a headache too. The good news is it passes quickly and you should be fine in a few days, though some people do suffer worse than others. "That's probably linked to the viral load you're exposed to," notes Henderson. "If you're exposed to a very heavy viral load, you might feel worse."

There’s probably no need to see your GP

"There's no cure for norovirus, it's just a case of treating the symptoms," Henderson stresses, which means a trip to your GP's probably going to be futile - and put other people at risk. "It's a miserable thing to get, but the vast majority of people will bounce back quite quickly. What they should not do, if they can, is walk into a doctor's surgery - because we're going to say, nicely, 'Go away' and give them general advice. But in the meantime, they'll have sat there spreading their germs left, right and centre."

But do seek advice if you’re concerned

Like flu, norovirus can be "more risky in the very young and very old". While it's highly unlikely to be a threat to the majority of people, with a vomiting and diarrhoea bug, the biggest risk is often linked to dehydration, which can quickly become serious - particularly for, as well as babies, young children and older people, those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or a heart or kidney condition. "The dangers [of dehydration include] reduced levels of consciousness, impact on your kidney function, altered confused states, and more prone to falls in the elderly," says Henderson. "In children, you will get lethargy and weakness." If anyone's showing worrying signs, or if symptoms don't clear after a few days and you're concerned, phone your GP surgery or local out-of-hours.

Self-Care and TLC

"In terms of treatment, fluid replacement is the main thing," says Henderson. "You can take paracetamol and ibuprofen for aches and pains if you want to, and avoid certain foods - spicy foods, oily foods - most people won't want them anyway," he adds. "Little and often" is often the best approach with eating. "Some toast, dry biscuits - everything is fine, to keep your sugar levels up, but the most important thing is fluids." If you're vomiting lots, Henderson notes that "if fluid stays down for at least five minutes, at least half of it will have gone into your system.

"A lot of people worry if they take a drink and vomit 10, 20 minutes later, they're not getting any benefit from the drink, but they are. It's when you vomit it straight back out that it can be a problem" - or if somebody's reluctant, too poorly, or just not aware how important it is to take on fluids. If this is the case, "fluid replacement products and sachets like Dioralyte can be really helpful, because they stop you from getting low in certain salts", notes Henderson. Aside from that, it's a question of resting and waiting it out.

Don’t rush back to work, either

There's lots of pressure to 'battle through' and not take time off sick, but while you may feel fine once the sickness stops, Henderson notes you may still be contagious for up to two days after symptoms have passed. "It's variable, but I always say assume you remain infected for about 48 hours after your symptoms have cleared," he says.

Stop the spread

The other key factor - to avoid spreading and catching the bug - is "scrupulous hygiene". The virus spreads via droplet transmission and infected droplets can remain 'live' for "at least an hour" on hard surfaces, which is how it spreads so widely through touch. To minimise risk, Henderson suggests practical steps like "using hand gels, always washing your hands after the loo, obviously, keeping hard surface areas clean and using antibacterial wipes in those areas. And don't forget things like handles, and making sure your toilet is kept clean with disinfectant".