MANY of us have spent the past few days cosied up indoors with family or friends.
The festive period will have provided the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones – and to spread nasty winter bugs at the same time.
Norovirus can cause vomiting and diarrhoeaGetty – Contributor
While coughs and colds reign rampant at this time of year, another illness rearing its ugly head is norovirus.
Short in duration but intense in symptoms, the unpleasant winter bug can leave sufferers with projectile vomiting and diarrhoea for 48 hours.
As the illness spreads from eating food prepared by carriers of the virus and touching surfaces in the home where bacteria lingers, Christmas mingling will have seen many Brits come down with the nasty bug.
Recent government data indicated that cases were increasing, with the number of patients in hospital with norovirus 55 per cent higher than December last year.
Meanwhile, hospital chiefs predicted a surge in infections over the festive period.
As many Brits prepare to head back to the office, health bosses have urged them not to return to work to avoid passing on the incredibly infectious bug, the Mirror reported.
Dr Lesley Larkin, Interim Deputy Director, Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety (One Health) Division at UKHSA said: “Norovirus cases continue to rise, especially among those 65 and older and in care homes.
“If you have norovirus or any other stomach bug that causes diarrhoea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing it on to family and friends over the festive period.
“Don’t prepare food for others if you have symptoms or for 48 hours after symptoms stop.”
Instead, you should make sure you’re washing your hands thoroughly and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces to help stop infections from spreading.
Dr Larkin added: “Do not return to work or school once term restarts, until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped.”
She also said you should not visit people in hospitals or care homes if you think you have norovirus, to avoid passing on the illness in these vulnerable settings.
How do I know if I have norovirus?
According to the NHS website, you’ve probably got norovirus if you experience a sudden sick feeling, projectile vomiting and watery diarrhoea.
The main symptoms include:
Feeling sick (nausea)
Being sick (vomiting)
A high temperature
A headache
Aching arms and legs
Symptoms usually start one or two days after being infected and last about two days.
If you have these symptoms, make sure you rest and have plenty of fluids, as vomiting and diarrhoea can leave you dehydrated.
The best thing you can do to stop the spread is wash your hands frequently with soap and water – alcohol hand gels unfortunately won’t kill the virus.
When to call 111 and 999 for norovirus
NOROVIRUS usually goes away on its own after a couple of days and doesn’t require medical attention.
But you might need to speak to a doctor if:
You’re worried about your baby who is younger than 12 months
Your child stops breast or bottle feeding while they’re ill
You think your child under five might be dehydrated – signs could include fewer wet nappies
You’ve used rehydration sachets but still have signs of dehydration
You or your child keep being sick and can’t keep fluids down
You or your child have bloody diarrhoea or start bleeding from the bottom
You or your child have diarrhoea for more than seven days or are vomiting for more than two days
And if you spot any of the following signs, it’s vital to seek urgent care:
Vomit in your blood
Vomit that looks like ground coffee
Green vomit (adults) or yellow-green vomit (children)
A stiff neck
Pain when looking at bright lights
A sudden, severe headache or stomach ache
Source: NHS